Macrohaltica flea beetle (Macrohaltica ambiens)
Pest description and damage Adults are dark, shiny blue, and about 0.25 inch in length. Larvae are black and about 0.25 inch in length at maturity. Adults chew holes in leaves while the larvae feed in groups and skeletonize foliage of altica, poplar, willow dogwood and other hosts. They are capable of defoliating trees, but only rarely do. More often, they are found in smaller numbers and damage is scattered throughout the canopy.
Biology and life history The insects overwinter as adults and become active in spring. They may be seen in large aggregations in spring as they emerge from hibernation. Adults feed on foliage before laying dull yellow eggs on leaves. Larvae usually are present in June and July and pupate in August. There is one generation per year.
Pest monitoring Watch for dark, metallic adults that emerge in the spring. If the number of adults is low, damage will be minimal. Later in the season, check abundance of the larvae. Control is not usually warranted in landscapes.
Management-biological control
This insect is generally under effective biological control since it is not commonly found in abundance. The fungus Sporotrichium globuliferum, a tachinid fly, and predatory stink bugs are reported to be natural enemies. As willow and red osier dogwoods are planted in riparian zones, there is a potential for predator populations to build up in these settings.
Management-chemical control
See Table 2 in:
Chemical Control of Landscape Pests
For more information
See "Flea beetle" in: