Tomato Pest: The Flea Beetle
By Danny Thompson
Despite being fun to say (come on, try it: “flea beetle”), the flea beetle damages plants by chewing small holes in the leaves, which in dry, hot and/or windy conditions can cause the plant to lose excessive moisture.
And since tomatoes are, in essence, bags of water, this can be devastating.
If your plants start looking dessicated and your leaves are looking like the bottom of your colander, then flea beetles could be your problem.
And, since they can survive through the winter in the soil or on weeds and other growth when your tomatoes are dormant, getting rid of them is crucial.
Nematodes can effectively control flea beetles, killing the larvae before they have a chance to mature.
You can also use insecticidal soaps. Also, sprays made of crushed garlic can help, or ashes sprinkled around the base of plants.
Finally, there are many foliar sprays that can help get rid of them (though some of these have beens shown to reduce fruit yield…so ask your provider before using).
