Do flea beetles eat hydrangeas?

Some favorite host plants of red-headed flea beetles include roses, forsythia, salvia, Joe Pye weed, azaleas and hydrangeas. These would be good species to start scouting for adults and larvae before damage occurs. Red-headed flea beetles skeletonize leaves as they feed.

What does flea beetle damage look like?

Adult flea beetles cause the most damage by feeding on the leaves and stems. They create shallow pits and small rounded, irregular holes (usually less than 1/8 inch) in the leaves. This type of damage is unique to flea beetles.

What is a natural way to get rid of flea beetles?

How to Get Rid of Flea Beetles

1. Try this homemade spray to control flea beetles: 2 cups isopropyl alcohol, 5 cups water, and 1 tablespoon liquid soap.
2. Dusting leaves with plain talcum powder repels flea beetles on tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and other plants.
3. Use white sticky traps to capture flea beetles as they jump.

What insecticide kills flea beetles?

To manage adults, place yellow sticky cards throughout the garden to trap and kill the flea beetles. Insecticides containing carbaryl, permethrin, spinosad, or bifenthrin are also effective against adult beetles. However, they must be reapplied every 1-2 weeks to provide consistent population management.

What plants repel flea beetles?

Marigolds have long been used as companion plants to ward off flea beetles and other pests. Some plants to consider intercropping include dill, bunching onions, or marigolds.

What plants do flea beetles hate?

If you have planted your eggplants in well-drained soil and don’t want to provide supplemental watering in the summer, consider drought-tolerant tansy (Tanacetum vulgare). The dark green foliage releases a camphor scent that keeps away pests like flea beetles.

What kills flea beetles on plants?

The most reliable method on how to get rid of flea beetles is with an insecticidal dust. Naturally derived spinosad and permethrin are two control agents that can provide some assistance in eradicating the beetles. Consistent applications are necessary because of the mobility of the pests.

What are the natural predators of flea beetles?

A number of natural predators can be employed to keep flea beetles in check, including two that parasitize it: Braconid wasps and tachinid flies. In both cases, the larval stage feeds on the flea beetle, while the adults feed on nectar and pollen; some species are even important pollinators.

Do earwigs eat flea beetles?

Earwigs. Earwigs are scary looking bugs, but they’re helpful bugs to keep your garden free of pests, including fleas. Earwigs hunt and eat bugs smaller than them. And given their pinchers at the back, they’re also efficient bug killers.

Do flea beetles live in the soil?

Life Cycle Of Flea Beetles The adults will feed on plants for several weeks before the females begin to lay eggs. Their eggs are typically laid in cracks in the soil around the base of their food plants. Once the larvae hatch, they typically feed on the slender root hairs or on plant matter in the soil.

How do I get rid of flea beetles in my garden?

At the first sign of flea beetles on your plants, turn to a trusted pesticide such as Sevin® brand garden insecticides for help. Tough on beetles, but easy on gardens, Sevin® Insect Killer Ready to Use kills flea beetles by contact and helps prevent damage to tender seedlings at the first sign of trouble.

What are these bugs on my hydrangea leaves?

You’ll be quick to notice these bugs with shiny green and brown bodies munching on the petals or leaves of your hydrangeas. Swarms of beetles can take down an entire plant in a matter of days, so if you notice them on your hydrangeas, it’s best that you take them down first. The most straightforward way to deal with them is to remove them manually.

Are Japanese beetles bad for hydrangeas?

Japanese beetlescan be a problem on oakleaf hydrangea but seldom bother the other types. Adults are metallic green and consume leaf tissue while leaving behind the veins, resulting in a lacy looking ‘skeleton’ of the leaf.

Why does my hydrangea have spots on the leaves?

Leaf spots caused by a variety of fungi can occur on hydrangea. A common leaf spot disease in the northeast is caused by the fungusCercospora. Tan spots with reddish brown borders form on the leaves. Infection can be reduced by minimizing leaf wetness. If needed, protectant fungicides can be applied prior to infection.

What is eating my hydrangea leaves?

The larvae of this weevil injure hydrangea by feeding on the roots. After devouring the small roots, the small grubs move on to chew the bark from larger roots, often girdling them. The tops of girdled plants turn yellow then brown, followed by the death of the plant.