Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook

Kohlrabi-Flea beetle

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Image related to Kohlrabi-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-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
  • azadirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • bifenthrin
  • carbaryl
  • cyfluthrin
  • gamma-cyhalothrin
  • imidacloprid
  • kaolin-When applied as a spray to foliage and stems it acts as a repellent to some insect pests. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • lambda-cyhalothrin
  • permethrin
  • plant-derived essential oils (such as rosemary)-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.
  • 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) at 0.033 to 0.1 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Limit 5 treatments. Do not exceed 0.5 lb ai/a per season.
  • bifenthrin (Capture LFR) at 0.04 to 0.08 lb ai/a soil applied in furrow with seed or transplant. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.5 lb ai/a per season including at-plant plus foliar treatments. Larvae only. Some formulations are
  • 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. Retreatment interval 7 days. Maximum 5 applications.
  • bifenthrin/zeta-cypermethrin (Hero EW) at 0.04 to 0.1 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Limit 5 treatments. Do not exceed 0.45 lb ai/a per season.
  • carbaryl (Sevin 4F) at 0.5 to 1 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Limit 4 treatments per year. Do not exceed 6 lb ai/a per year.
  • chlorantraniliprole/thiamethoxam (Voliam Flexi) at 0.1 to 0.172 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, 0.15 to 0.2 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.
  • cyantraniliprole (Exirel) at 0.088 to 0.133 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. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.22 lb ai/a 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/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 0.6 lb ai/a per season
  • dinotefuran (Scorpion 35SL) at 0.05 to 0.18 lb ai/a foliar or 0.23 to 0.27 lb ai/a soil. PHI 1 day foliar, 21 days 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.
  • 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. An oil or nonionic surfactant improves performance.
  • imidacloprid (Admire Pro) at 0.16 to 0.38 lb ai/a soil and 0.047 lb ai/a foliar. PHI 21 days soil; 7 days foliar. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.38 lb ai/a soil and 0.23 lb ai/a foliar per season.
  • 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 season.
  • 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/a of lambda-cyhalothrin or 0.172 lb ai/a of thiamethoxam per season.
  • malathion (Malathion 8) at 1.25 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Limit 2 treatment per year.
  • 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. PHI 30 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai/a per 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.