Control Flea Beetles Organically
By Marilyn Pokorney, Fri Dec 9th
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Words: 449 Copyright: 2005 Marilyn Pokorney
Please leave the resource box intact with an active link, andsend a courtesy copy of the publication in which the articleappears to: marilynp@nctc.net--------------------------------------- Flea beetles are more ofa nuisance than a threat to a healthy garden. But if found onseedlings they can kill the plants. On larger, well-establishedplants they do little harm. However, in corn and potatoes fleabeetles can transmit serious diseases. Potato beetles maytransmit early blight. Corn flea beetles can transmit abacterium called Stewart's Wilt.
The adults are tiny ranging from 1/16 to 1/4 inch long and arevarious colors, including black, greenish or bluish black, greenor yellow. They have enlarged hind legs which enable them tojump like fleas. The larvae are slender, white grubs which feedon roots, tubers, and lower stems underground.
Flea beetles overwinter as adults among debris in or near fieldsor host plants. At the end of the year remove plants and surfacedebris to remove hibernating material.
Eggs are deposited in soil near the bases of host plants and mayrequire a week or more to hatch. Treating the soil withbeneficial nematodes can help control the larvae.
Plant later than usual so warmer temperatures can help plants tooutgrow the feeding beetles.
Use rotation planting. Don't plant the same crop in the same bedthe next year.
Dusting plants with Diatomaceous earth, ashes, ground limestone,or even flour has been used successfully.
Homemade sticky traps
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