7/2/2013 - By Matthew Shultz

Matt Shultz is a Horticultural Tech Support Specialist and Sales Representative for Harrell’s LLC.

The Red Headed Flea Beetleis becoming a more prevalent pest in containerized nurseries. Eggs of the beetle are deposited in the soil of pots by the previous year's adults, and grubs hatch in typically the first week of May in Maryland. Grubs feed on the roots of plants, but usually cause minimal damage to root systems. Adults emerge from the soil about three weeks later and start feeding on the foliage of a wide variety of crops. Adult beetles appear between 550-750 GDD, which is about the same time the orange Soldier Beetles emerge in your area, and also about the same time Itea virginiana goes into bloom. The adult stage of the beetle is the most detrimental to ornamental plants, producing a scarring on the upper surface of the leaf. This pest can have up to three generations per year which is why it can be so devastating in an ornamental nursery.

Resources for More Information on this Pest

Red Headed Flea Beetles have affected areas from Alabama to Maine, as seen in the following articles.

• http://www.hort.wisc.edu/cran/mgt_articles/articles_pest_mgt/insects/profiles_insects/FLEA%20Beetle.pdf
• http://www.aces.edu/timelyinfo/Horticulture/2010/September/sept_16_2010.pdf
• http://www.aces.edu/timelyinfo/Horticulture/2009/July/H-07-09.pdf
• http://umaine.edu/cranberries/grower-services/insects/red-headed-flea-beetle/
• http://blogs.cce.cornell.edu/cvp/archives/746
• http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-74.pdf

Harrell's Recommended Spray Program for Adult Control

These recommendations are intended as guidelines to develop the grower's own program. Thoroughly read the individual product labels and conduct your own product trials before applying across the crop.

• Flagship 25WG (http://harrells.com/product/FLAGSH1)– 8 oz/100 gals – Systemic insecticide, best used 1-2 weeks prior to pest appearing, or spray at first sign of pest, 2-3 repeat applications may be necessary if pests persists, but do not reapply no sooner than every 7 days, do not apply to crops in bloom due to bee toxicity
• Safari 20SG – (http://harrells.com/product/SAFARI) 8 oz/100 gals – Systemic insecticide, best used 1-2 weeks prior to pest appearing, or spray at first sign of pest, 2-3 repeat applications 14-21 days apart may be necessary if pests persists, do not apply to crops in bloom due to bee toxicity
• Talstar – (http://harrells.com/product/TALSTA2) 20 oz/100 gals – Locally systemic insecticide, best used once the pest appears, 2-3 repeat applications may be necessary if pest persists, do not apply to crops in bloom due to bee toxicity
• Orthene – 16 oz/100 gals – best used when pest is present, 2-3 applications may be necessary if pest persists
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About the Author

Since late 2010 Matt Shultz has served as Horticultural Tech Support & Sales Rep. He graduated from West Virginia University in 2006 with degree in Horticultural Sciences, and worked as a head grower for The Conard-Pyle Co for 4 yrs where he oversaw the finished production of half a million roses every year, 100K perennials, and about a million and a half other landscape ornamental plants.

Matt worked heavily to integrate beneficial biological organisms into Conard-Pyle's Integrated Pest Management program. His work in this area landed him on the May 2010 cover of Nursery Management and Production Magazine. See link http://www.nurserymanagementonline.com/nmpro-0510-beneficial-breakthrough-insects.aspx