Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook

Turnip (roots and tops) and rutabaga-Flea beetle

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Image related to Turnip (roots and tops) and rutabaga-Flea beetle
Cabbage flea beetle
Phyllotreta cruciferae Goetze
Adult
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection

Includes 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 must be repeated frequently. Reinvasion of plants can be rapid.

Management-chemical control: HOME USE

  • azadirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • bifenthrin
  • carbaryl
  • cyfluthrin
  • imidacloprid
  • kaolin-Applied as a spray to foliage, it acts as a repellent to some insect pests. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • malathion
  • plant essential oils (rosemary, 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 0.012 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. Turnip greens only.
  • 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. turnip greens only.
  • bifenthrin (Brigade WSB) at 0.08 to 0.1 lb ai/a. PHI 21 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.5 lb ai/a per season. Retreatment interval 7 days.
  • bifenthrin/zeta-cypermethrin (Hero EW) at 0.025 to 0.06 lb ai/a. PHI 21 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 21 days. Do not exceed 0.45 lb ai/a per season. Limit 2 treatments.
  • carbaryl (Sevin 4F) at 0.5 to 1 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 6 lb ai/a per season.
  • cyfluthrin (Tombstone) at 0.038 to 0.05 lb ai/a (roots). PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/a per season. Turnip greens only.
  • cyfluthrin/imidacloprid (Leverage 2.7) at 0.08 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.17 lb ai/a cyfluthrin or 0.24 lb ai/a imidacloprid per year. Turnip greens only.
  • deltamethrin (Delta Gold) at 0.018 to 0.028 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 3 days. Do not exceed 0.14 lb ai/a per season.
  • dinotefuran (Dinotefuran 20SG, Venom) at 0.088 to 0.131 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.262 lb ai/a per season. Turnip greens only.
  • esfenvalerate (Asana XL) at 0.03 to 0.05. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.4 lb ai/a per season. Turnip only.
  • imidacloprid (Admire Pro) at 0.16 to 0.38 lb ai/a, or 0.011 to 0.027 lb ai/1,000 row ft soil or 0.044 lb ai/a foliar. PHI 7 days foliar, 21 days soil. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.13 lb ai/a foliar or 0.38 lb ai/a soil per year.
  • imidacloprid (Provado, Prey) at 0.044 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.23 lb ai/a per season.
  • malathion (Fyfanon 8E) at 1.25 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Limit 3 treatments Turnips only.
  • spinosad (Success, Entrust SC) at 0.047 to 0.094 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 4 hr. Do not exceed 0.28 lb ai/a per season. Retreatment interval 5 days. Entrust SC is OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • thiamethoxam (Actara) at 0.023 to 0.047 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.125 lb ai/a per season.
  • thiamethoxam (Platinum) at 0.078 to 0.188 lb ai/a at plant. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.188 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 year.

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.