Includes
Pale striped flea beetle (Systena elongate)
Three-spotted flea beetle (Disconycha triangularis)
Tuber flea beetle (Epitrix tuberis)
Western potato flea beetle (E. subcrinita)
Pest description and crop damage Pinhead-sized, metallic green-black jumping beetles chew small "shotholes" in cotyledons and first true leaves of seedling sugar beets, especially plants along ditch banks and fencerows where beetles overwinter. Damage is most severe when abnormally cool spring weather slows sugar beet plant growth.
Scouting and thresholds No formal economic thresholds exist for flea beetle insecticide treatment decisions.
Management-biological control
The insect-killing fungus, Beauveria bassiana, is available in commercial formulations.
Management-chemical control
Several insecticide options are available for flea beetles (Tables 1-3).