Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook

Collard and kale-Flea beetle

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Image related to Collard and kale-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 feet 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-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 must be repeated frequently. Reinvasion of plants can be rapid.

Management-chemical control: HOME USE

  • acetamiprid
  • azadirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • carbaryl
  • cyfluthrin
  • esfenvalerate-Do not use on kale.
  • imidacloprid
  • kaolin-When applied as a spray to foliage it acts as a repellent to some insect pests. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use. Do not use on kale. Not registered for use in OR.
  • malathion
  • permethrin
  • plant-derived essential oils (rosemary, peppermint etc.)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • pyrethrins-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 2EC, Sniper) at 0.033 to 0.1 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.4 lb ai/A per season.
  • 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 ai/A per season.
  • carbaryl (Sevin XLR Plus) at 0.5 to 1 lb ai/A. PHI 14 days. REI 12 hr. Limit 4 treatments per year. Do not exceed 6 lb ai/A per crop. Retreatment interval 7 days.
  • chlorantraniliprole/thiamethoxam (Voliam Flexi) at 0.1 to 0.175 lb ai/A. PHI 7 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, 0.15 to 0.2 lb ai/A soil. PHI 7 days foliar, 21 days soil. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 10 days. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/A per season.
  • cyclaniliprole (Harvanta 50SL) at 0.036 to 0.054 lb ai/A. REI 4 hr. PHI 1 day. Limit 3 treatments per crop. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.22 lb ai/A per year. Product not registered for use in WA.
  • cryolite (Kryocide) at 7.7 to 15.4 lb ai/A. PHI 14 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 92 lb ai/A per season. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use. Collards only. Product not registered for use in OR.
  • cyantraniliprole (Exirel) at 0.088 to 0.133 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.4 lb ai/A per year. Limit 6 treatments per year.
  • cyfluthrin (Tombstone) at 0.038 to 0.05 lb ai/A. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/A per season.
  • cypermethrin (Holster) at 0.05 to 0.1 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.4 lb ai/A per year.
  • dinotefuran (Venom) at 0.088 to 0.131 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.263 lb ai/A per season. Retreatment interval 7 days. Limit 3 treatments.
  • esfenvalerate (Asana XL) at 0.03 to 0.05 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Do not feed crop residue. Apply at ground level only. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/A per year. Collards only.
  • imidacloprid (Admire Pro) at 0.047 lb ai/A for foliar application. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.23 lb ai/A per year.
  • imidacloprid (Prey 1.6) at 0.0475 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.23 lb ai/A per year.
  • malathion (Malathion 8) at 1.0 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval kale 5 days, collards 7 days. Limit 3 applications.
  • thiamethoxam (Actara) at 0.023 to 0.047 lb ai/A. PHI 7 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.
  • 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.
  • zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang) at 0.028 to 0.05 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.3 lb ai/A per season.

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.