Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook

Broccoli, Brussels sprout, cabbage, cauliflower-Flea beetle

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Image related to Broccoli, Brussels sprout, cabbage, cauliflower-Flea beetle
Cabbage flea beetle
Phyllotreta cruciferae Goetze
Adult
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection

Includes cabbage flea beetle (Phyllotreta cruciferae)

Pest description, crop damage and life history

See:

Common Pests of Vegetable Crops

Pest monitoring Monitor fields for flea beetles soon after transplanting or as seedlings emerge. Flea beetles attacking the cotyledons of emerging broccoli seedlings can destroy a new planting in 24 hours. Treat for flea beetles when small holes show on transplants or on plants from seeded fields. Young plants (three to five leaves) often withstand flea beetle injury, but they may be killed if the weather is dry and windy. The percentage of plants affected and forecasted weather conditions will indicate the need to treat.

When the flea beetles on seedlings are migrating from hosts outside of the field, most of the infestation will be localized within 200 ft of field borders. Check the distribution of leaf feeding to see if this is the case, and consider border treatments only. If high populations exist 1 to 2 weeks before harvest, and foliage is declining as a food source for the beetles, spot treat according to the flea beetle distribution.

Management-biological control

  • nematodes (larvae only)-Soil must be warmer than 53°F (larvae only).

Management-cultural control

"Trap crops," such as radish or daikon, may help lure flea beetles away from the main crop. This has not been tested in the Pacific Northwest. Floating row covers or other screening can be used to exclude the beetles during seedling establishment of high value crops. Flea beetles can be vacuumed off foliage, but this practice must be repeated frequently. Reinvasion of plants can be rapid.

Management-chemical control: HOME USE

  • acetamiprid
  • azarirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • bifenthrin (often as a mix with zeta-cypermethrin)
  • carbaryl
  • cyfluthrin
  • esfenvalerate-Do not use on Brussels sprout.
  • gamma-cyhalothrin
  • imidacloprid
  • insecticidal soap-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • kaolin-Applied as a spray to foliage, it acts as a repellent to some insect pests. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use. Not listed for homeuse in OR.
  • lambda-cyhalothrin
  • malathion
  • permethrin
  • plant essential oils (rosemary, etc.)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • pyrethrins (often combined with other ingredients)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • spinosad-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • zeta-cypermethrin

Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE

  • alpha-cypermethrin (Fastac EC) at 0.014 to 0.025 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.075 lb ai/A per season.
  • beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid XL) at 0.019 to 0.025 lb ai/A. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.1 lb ai/A per season.
  • beta-cyfluthrin/imidacloprid (Leverage 360) at 0.07 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.1 lb ai/A beta-cyfluthrin or 0.2 lb ai/A imidacloprid per season.
  • bifenthrin (Brigade WSB, Sniper) at 0.033 to 0.1 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.5 lb ai/A per year. Do not make more than five applications after bloom. Retreatment interval 7 days.
  • bifenthrin/imidacloprid (Brigadier) at 0.06 to 0.095 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.24 lb ai/A imidacloprid and 0.24 lb ai/A bifenthrin as a foliar application. Retreatment interval 7 days. Maximum 5 treatments only after bloom.
  • bifenthrin/zeta-cypermethrin (Hero EW) at 0.04 to 0.1 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.45 lb/A per season. Limit 5 applications after bloom.
  • chlorantraniliprole/thiamethoxam (Voliam Flexi) at 0.1 to 0.175 lb ai/A. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai of thiamethoxam or 0.2 lb ai of chlorantraniliprole per acre per growing season.
  • clothianidin (Belay) at 0.05 to 0.067 lb ai/A foliar or at 0.15 to 0.2 lb ai/A soil applied. PHI 7 days foliar, 21 days soil. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/A per season. Foliar retreatment interval 7 days.
  • cyantraniliprole (Exirel) at 0.045 to 0.088 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Limit 6 treatments per year. Do not exceed 0.4 lb ai/A per year.
  • cyclaniliprole (Harvanta 50SL) at 0.036 to 0.054 lb ai/A. REI 4 hr. PHI 1 day. Retreatment interval 5 days. Limit 3 treatments per crop. Do not exceed 0.22 lb ai/A per year. Some restrictions on application timing. Product not registered for use in WA.
  • cyfluthrin (Tombstone) at 0.038 to 0.05 lb ai/A (larvae only). PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/A per season.
  • cryolite (Kryocide) at 7.7 to 15.4 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days for broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprout, and 14 days for cabbage. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 92 lb ai/A per season. OMRI-listed for organic use. Product not registered for use in OR.
  • cypermethrin (Holster) at 0.05 to 0.1 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.6 lb ai/A per season.
  • dinotefuran (Scorpion 35SL) at 0.05 to 0.18 lb ai/A as foliar spray, at 0.23 to 0.27 lb ai/A as soil treatment. PHI 1 day for foliar; 21 days for soil. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.266 lb ai/A foliar or 0.532 lb ai/A soil per season.
  • esfenvalerate (Asana XL) at 0.03 to 0.05 lb ai/A. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Do not use on Brussels sprout. Do not exceed 0.4 lb ai/A per year.
  • gamma-cyhalothrin (Declare) at 0.01 to 0.015 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 24 hr. Do not exceed 0.12 lb ai/A per season.
  • imidacloprid (Admire Pro) at 0.047 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.23 lb ai/A per year. Retreatment interval 5 days.
  • imidacloprid (Prey) at 0.05 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.24 lb ai/A per year. Retreatment interval 5 days.
  • lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior II) at 0.02 to 0.03 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.24 lb ai/A per year.
  • lambda-cyhalothrin/thiamethoxam (Endigo ZC) at 0.064 to 0.072 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.24 lb ai of lambda-cyhalothrin or 0.172 lb ai/A of thiamethoxam per season.
  • malathion (Malathion 8 Flowerable) at 1.25 lb ai/A. PHI 2 days broccoli, Brussels sprout, cauliflower; 7 days for cabbage. REI 48 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Limit 2 treatments per year.
  • permethrin (Permethrin) at 0.1 to 0.2 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.4 lb ai/A per year. Cabbage only.
  • thiamethoxam (Actara) at 0.023 to 0.047 lb ai/A. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai/A per season.
  • thiamethoxam (Platinum) at 0.078 to 0.172 lb ai/A soil applied. PHI 30 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai/A per season. Apply to the soil as in-furrow spray, band application, drench, shanked or with irrigation.
  • thiamethoxam/chlorantraniliprole (Durivo) at 0.195 to 0.257 lb ai/A applied to the soil. PHI 30 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai of thiamethoxam or 0.2 lb ai of chlorantraniliprole per acre per growing season.
  • tolfenpyrad (Torac) at 0.17 to 0.21 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 14 days. Limit 4 treatments. Do not exceed 0.42 lb/A per year. Ground application only.
  • zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang) at 0.028 to 0.05 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.3 lb ai/A per year. Retreatment interval 7 days.

Kaur, N. (Ed.). 2024 Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook.
© Oregon State University.

Use pesticides safely!

  • Wear protective clothing and safety devices as recommended on the label. Bathe or shower after each use.
  • Read the pesticide label—even if you’ve used the pesticide before. Follow closely the instructions on the label (and any other directions you have).
  • Be cautious when you apply pesticides. Know your legal responsibility as a pesticide applicator. You may be liable for injury or damage resulting from pesticide use.

Trade-name products and services are mentioned as illustrations only. This does not mean that the participating Extension Services endorse these products and services or that they intend to discriminate against products and services not mentioned.