Crucifer Flea Beetle

Foodplant / open feeder
imago of Phyllotreta cruciferae grazes on leaf of Brassica

Foodplant / open feeder
imago of Phyllotreta cruciferae grazes on leaf of Sinapis

Phyllotreta cruciferae is a serious pest of brassicaceous crops in much of its range.

Adults are active from April to October on the Canadian Prairies.

Native to Eurasia, it can be found from England to North Africa in the West and Russia to India in the East and is common in oilseed production areas. Occurs across North America from British Columbia to Oregon in the west and from Newfoundland to Delaware in the east (Bousquet 1991, Anonymous 1982).

Adults are 2-3mm, dorsally flat, elongate oval, black with a bright blue lustre and have enlarged hind femurs. The luster allows distinction from another brassicaceous crop pest, Psylliodes punctulata: these have a bronze luster.

Agricultural areas subject to disturbance such as crops, roadside ditches and weed fields.

One generation per year. Two generations per year possible in portions of range. Adults overwinter in soil, turf or leaf near shelterbelts, hedges and fencerows. These emerge in spring to feed on foliage. In spring, 1-4 eggs are deposited near the bases of host plants. Eggs are about 0.4mm long by 0.2 mm wide, oval and light yellow. Mature larvae are approximately 3mm, white to very light brown with a copper-brown head and anal plate and are slender with small legs. Larvae feed on roots and root hairs and pupate in soil. These emerge as adults late summer (Burgess 1977).

Adults are considered oligophagous on Brassicaceae.

Phyllotreta cruciferae, known generally as crucifer flea beetle, is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. Other common names include the canola flea beetle and rape flea beetle. It is found in Europe and Northern Asia (excluding China) and North America.