Corn flea beetle of the leaf beetle family belongs to the flea beetle genus and is indigenous to the United States of America, Canada, and Texas. As evident from its name, this beetle is mainly a pest of corn alongcol3 other crops like soybean and sorghum.
Size: 2 mm (0.07 inches)
Color: They have a black body with orange antennae and legs.
Other Characteristic Features: It is small in size, as tiny as a pinhead with a shiny appearance and long hind legs.
The cylindrically-shaped larva has a grub-like appearance, with a white body and dark-colored head. They grow to 9 mm (0.35 inches) upon reaching the final instar stage. They mainly feed on the roots of their host plants, causing immense damage.
The pupa also appears white, just like the larva, having a soft body. It replicates an adult in shape. Its body color eventually darkens by the time it reaches the end of the pupal stage.
The eggs have a white coloration with pointed ends. It hatches into a larva between 7 and 14 days and darkens just before that phase.
| Adult lifespan | One month |
| Duration of larval stage | About five weeks |
| Distribution | USA, Canada, Texas |
| Habitat | Fields particularly where corn grows, and grasslands |
| Common Predators | Tachinid flies, wasps |
| Seasons active from | Not recorded |
| Host Plants | Corn, sorghum, soybean |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Larvae: Roots Adult: Leaves of their host plants |
The adult beetles and larvae mainly target corn, alongcol3 other crops like wheat, barley, sweet corn, sorghum, soybean, grains, and vegetables. They feed on the leave’s upper and lower parts damaging the veins and tissues. The leaves may develop scratches that could hamper their health immensely in heavy infestation, making them appear silvery of white. Becol3s the direct damage, the corn flea beetle is even instrumental in transmitting a bacterial disease, Stewart’s wilt causing the plant to get infected and eventually die in case of severity.
Of the several measures for controlling the corn flea beetle population, one of them includes spraying insecticides.
Image Source: i.pinimg.com, kentuckypestnews.files.wordpress.com, extension.entm.purdue.edu, m.farms.com
Corn flea beetle of the leaf beetle family belongs to the flea beetle genus and is indigenous to the United States of America, Canada, and Texas. As evident from its name, this beetle is mainly a pest of corn alongcol3 other crops like soybean and sorghum.
Size: 2 mm (0.07 inches)
Color: They have a black body with orange antennae and legs.
Other Characteristic Features: It is small in size, as tiny as a pinhead with a shiny appearance and long hind legs.
The cylindrically-shaped larva has a grub-like appearance, with a white body and dark-colored head. They grow to 9 mm (0.35 inches) upon reaching the final instar stage. They mainly feed on the roots of their host plants, causing immense damage.
The pupa also appears white, just like the larva, having a soft body. It replicates an adult in shape. Its body color eventually darkens by the time it reaches the end of the pupal stage.
The eggs have a white coloration with pointed ends. It hatches into a larva between 7 and 14 days and darkens just before that phase.
| Adult lifespan | One month |
| Duration of larval stage | About five weeks |
| Distribution | USA, Canada, Texas |
| Habitat | Fields particularly where corn grows, and grasslands |
| Common Predators | Tachinid flies, wasps |
| Seasons active from | Not recorded |
| Host Plants | Corn, sorghum, soybean |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Larvae: Roots Adult: Leaves of their host plants |
The adult beetles and larvae mainly target corn, alongcol3 other crops like wheat, barley, sweet corn, sorghum, soybean, grains, and vegetables. They feed on the leave’s upper and lower parts damaging the veins and tissues. The leaves may develop scratches that could hamper their health immensely in heavy infestation, making them appear silvery of white. Becol3s the direct damage, the corn flea beetle is even instrumental in transmitting a bacterial disease, Stewart’s wilt causing the plant to get infected and eventually die in case of severity.
Of the several measures for controlling the corn flea beetle population, one of them includes spraying insecticides.
Image Source: i.pinimg.com, kentuckypestnews.files.wordpress.com, extension.entm.purdue.edu, m.farms.com
