Flea Beetles - Ask Extension
I have had a flea beetle issue for the past few growing seasons. I've tried all the recommendations to no avail. (I plant garlic in the fall so I can'...
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Flea Beetles #871369
Asked June 03, 2024, 4:06 PM EDT
I have had a flea beetle issue for the past few growing seasons. I've tried all the recommendations to no avail. (I plant garlic in the fall so I can't always remove an entire top layer of soil). I"m getting ready to plant my young tomato plants and am wondering what intervention I can take so they don't destroy them once they are planted.
Thanks for any advice (I've been into my local garden shop and they didn't have any new ideas).
Pitkin County Colorado
Expert Response
Hi Kelly,
We get flea beetles in our office demonstration garden every year as well. I use a product that contains spinosad (e.g. Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew; ferti-lome Borer, Bagworm, Tent Caterpillar & Leafminer Spray; Monterey Garden Insect Spray) and have found that to be effective when applied regularly during the height of flea beetle activity. Most formulations of spinosad are labeled for use in organic production. I also try to keep the property free of weeds or treat weeds that are infested with flea beetles. Flea beetles often start off the year on weeds and then move into crops so either controlling the weeds early on or treating flea beetle infestations in weeds can help keep populations lower. I also use row cover to try to keep flea beetles out. It has to be used from planting time onward and I typically still have to treat with spinosad but it helps keep them from returning after I've gotten control. That is what has worked for me but it is an on-going battle with them!
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/flea-beetles-5-592/
Thank you for using AskExtension!
- Denyse
We get flea beetles in our office demonstration garden every year as well. I use a product that contains spinosad (e.g. Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew; ferti-lome Borer, Bagworm, Tent Caterpillar & Leafminer Spray; Monterey Garden Insect Spray) and have found that to be effective when applied regularly during the height of flea beetle activity. Most formulations of spinosad are labeled for use in organic production. I also try to keep the property free of weeds or treat weeds that are infested with flea beetles. Flea beetles often start off the year on weeds and then move into crops so either controlling the weeds early on or treating flea beetle infestations in weeds can help keep populations lower. I also use row cover to try to keep flea beetles out. It has to be used from planting time onward and I typically still have to treat with spinosad but it helps keep them from returning after I've gotten control. That is what has worked for me but it is an on-going battle with them!
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/flea-beetles-5-592/
Thank you for using AskExtension!
- Denyse
Thanks Denyse! Can I use spinosad on new plants? I will have potatoes sprouting and want to plant tomato seedlings. Those dang flea beetles always attack the new plants.
Thanks,
Kelly
Hi Kelly,
I have not had issues with spinosad burning or causing problems for seedlings in the past but I would definitely read the label to see if there are any warnings about using that specific product on seedlings. You could also test it on just a couple seedlings first.
Hope that helps!
- Denyse
I have not had issues with spinosad burning or causing problems for seedlings in the past but I would definitely read the label to see if there are any warnings about using that specific product on seedlings. You could also test it on just a couple seedlings first.
Hope that helps!
- Denyse
