Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet EditionEggplant flea beetle (247)
Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet EditionEggplant flea beetle (247)
Summary
- Worldwide distribution. On eggplant, potato, tomato, and weeds. Several types. Occasionally important.
- Eggs laid in soil; larvae tunnel through roots or stems, pupating in the soil; adults, 3.5-4 mm, shiny dark green or blue. Fly and jump. Small holes made in leaves, sometimes severe. Can kill seedlings.
- Cultural control: avoid overlapping crops, leave at least 3 months between crops; fertilizers and manures to promote growth; weed; crop rotation; collect trash and burn after harvest.
- Chemical control: PDPs: derris, pyrethrum, or chilli, or synthetic pyrethroids.
Common Name
Eggplant flea beetle, Psylliodes flea beetle
Scientific Name
Psylliodes species. The beetle is recorded from Fiji and Tonga as Psylliodes brettinghami, but other species are likely to be present in the Pacific islands. However, even though the different species may have different hosts, it is likely that they have similar life cycles. Psylliodes brettinghami is thought to be synonymous with Psylliodes cucurbitae.
AUTHORS Grahame Jackson & Mani Mua
Photos 5&6 Henderson RC, Crosby TK (2012) Flea Beetle (Psylliodes brettinghami). PaDIL - (https://www.padil.gov.au).
Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
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