How to Get Rid of Flea Beetles in Your Garden

Get Rid of Flea Beetles 

Flea beetles are troublesome insects that cause a lot of damage to vegetable crops and spoil the appearance of leafy greens. If you notice small black bugs on your plants, or if your plant's leaves are covered in small "shot holes," you may be dealing with flea beetles. In this guide, you'll find everything you need to get rid of flea beetle infestations naturally and keep these pests out of your garden.

What are flea beetles?

Flea beetles are named for their small size and curious patterns of movement. When disturbed, these insects use their long hind legs to jump as fast as their namesake. Flea beetles rarely measure more than 1/8 inch long, and they can be difficult to spot because they move so quickly. There are many types of flea beetles and they come in many different colors. Generally, flea beetles are brown to black in color. Some species sport bright tones and some have striped or spotted shells.

Mature flea beetles emerge in garden litter during winter and early spring when temperatures reach about 50ºF. After breeding, flea beetles lay their eggs around the base of young plants. Young Flea beetles often feed on plant roots, while adults riddle plant leaves with holes.

How to get rid of flea beetles

Once a flea beetle infestation is established in your garden, it's important to act quickly to minimize damage. One of the easiest ways to address minor infestations of flea beetles is to spray your plants with an organic insecticidal soap or neem oil spray. These sprays should be applied in the evening after sunset to avoid leaf burn. If you want to make your own insecticidal soap spray, mix a few drops of castile soap with a quart of water and add a tablespoon or two of neem oil.

Kaolin clay is another effective organic treatment option for flea beetles and other plant pests. To apply, mix kaolin clay powder with water according to label directions. Then spray the mixture on the affected plants on a dry day. Once in place, kaolin clay makes it difficult for insects to feed on plants and also prevents them from laying eggs.

Tips for preventing flea beetles

1. The keys to keeping flea beetles and other garden pests under control are practicing good garden maintenance and making smart planting choices.

2. If your garden has suffered from a flea beetle infestation in previous years, be sure to clean up any infested plant debris before replanting.

3.Plow your soil if the infestation is really bad.

4. Install floating row covers early in the season to protect your garden from flea beetles and other pests.

5. Delay planting seeds and seedlings for a few weeks in the spring. This will starve the flea beetles and keep your new plants safe.

6. Companion planting is an easy, natural way to prevent flea beetles. For example, these insects avoid aromatic plants such as catnip and green onions, and avoid nearby plants.

7. Grow flowering plants to attract beneficial insects that naturally feed on flea beetles. Good options include planting dill and sweet alyssum near the vegetables you want to preserve.

8. Protect your leafy greens from damage by planting a trap crop like radishes to keep flea beetles away from more valuable produce.