FOR DOWNLOAD CONTACT - eduvish24@gmail.com BIOECOLOGY, NATURE OF DAMAGE, SYMPTOM OF DAMAGE AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OF SUNHEMP FLEA BEETLE The flea beetle are in the largest subfamily (Alticinae) of the family Chrysomelidae or leaf beetles .The name Altica is derived from the Greek word “HALTIKOS” which translates to “GOOD JUMPERS”.This group of insects are named flea beetles because they have strong hind legs allowing them to jump long distances.Both adults and larvae cause damage .Adult beetles bite holes in the leaves and cause severe damage .The larvae feed on the roots and reduce the vitality of the plants

1. BIOECOLOGY, NATURE OF DAMAGE, SYMPTOM OF
DAMAGE AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OF
SUNHEMP FLEA BEETLE
PRESENTED BY
VISHALI NS

2. INTRODUCTION
● The flea beetle are in the largest subfamily (Alticinae) of the family
Chrysomelidae or leaf beetles
● The name Altica is derived from the Greek word “HALTIKOS”
which translates to “GOOD JUMPERS”
● This group of insects are named flea beetles because they have
strong hind legs allowing them to jump long distances.

3. FLEA BEETLE
● The flea beetle is a small, jumping beetle of the leaf beetle family
(Chrysomelidae).
● Flea beetles are common pests found on many vegetable crops
including radishes, broccoli, cabbage, turnips, eggplant, peppers,
tomatoes, potatoes, spinach and melons.

4. SUNHEMP FLEA BEETLE
● Longitarsus belgaumensis is a sunhemp
flea beetle of the family Chrysomelidae,
order Coleoptera.
● Flea beetles live through the winter as
adults in leaf litter, hedgerows,
windbreaks and wooded areas.

5. BIOECOLOGY
● EGG : Females lay single or clusters of eggs in small holes, in roots, soil or
leaves .
● LARVAE: Small white larvae hatch from eggs and feed on the roots of the
newly planted seedlings.
● PUPA: Larvae then transform into pupae in the ground . The grubs feed
by mining into tender roots of sunhemp plants and when grown , pupate
in the earthern cells in the soil.

6. ADULT
● The yellowish brown beetle
has enlarged hind femur .
● There are usually one to two
generations per year.
● The life cycle is completed in
23 - 28 days.

7. NATURE OF DAMAGE
● Both adults and larvae cause damage .
● Adult beetles bite holes in the leaves and cause severe damage .
● The larvae feed on the roots and reduce the vitality of the plants

8. SYMPTOM OF DAMAGE
● Adult flea beetle cause the most damage by feeding on the leaves and stems.
● They create shallow pits and small rounded , irregular holes ( usually less than
⅛ th inch ) in the leaves .
● This type of damage is unique to flea beetle
● The larvae of flea beetles develop feeding on roots of plants. However the
injury this stage ( Larva) produces is generally considered to be negligible to
plant growth.

9. TYPICAL SYMPTOM
Small shotholes wounds
in leaves are typical
injuries produced by flea
beetle .

10. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
● Intercropping can limit the damage
● Crop rotation is done to break the cycle
● Spraying with Endosulfan 1.5 ml/l or Monocrotophos 1.6 ml/l in the
evening hours is recommended.
● Apply Carbofuran 3G @ 12.5 Kg/l in soil followed by spray of Carbaryl
50 WP @ 2.5 Kg/ha.

11. REFERENCES
● https://www.agricultureinindia.net/pest_control/sunhemp/pests_of_sunhemp_a
nd_its_control_agriculture/15868
● Knodel, J.J and Olson D.L .2002. Crucifer Flea beetle : Biology and Integrated
Pest management in canola.NDSU . www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu
● Han Jeffrey and W .D Hutchinson.2018.Flea beetles in home gardens.UMN
Extension.https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/flea-beetles
● https://ag.umass.edu/sites/ag.umass.edu/files/pdf-doc-
ppt/flea_beetle_factsheet.pdf
● Chartrand Matt.2018. Insect pest of Industrial Hemp in NYS .
https://hemp.cals.cornell.edu/docs/insect_pests_industrial_hemp/a_beetle

12. THANK YOU...