Is this a flea beetle? - Ask Extension
Hello! There have been some irregular holes chewed on my crookneck squash bushes (I say bushes, but they're still quite young). My burgundy amaranth a...
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Is this a flea beetle? #647082
Asked June 06, 2020, 5:02 PM EDT
Hello! There have been some irregular holes chewed on my crookneck squash bushes (I say bushes, but they're still quite young). My burgundy amaranth also shows some evidence of chewing. I've tried to find the insects responsible, and today I saw some small, barely noticeable tiny gray insects. They jumped when I tried to squish them, so I think they might be flea beetles. However, they don't look like any flea beetles I've seen in pictures, so I'm wondering what they are and what to do about them. Or are they springtails, as seen here: https://www.vegedge.umn.edu/pest-profiles/pests/springtails? I'm very nervous that they will destroy my squash, and I'm slightly concerned about my amaranth, too. For some context: I'm in Minneapolis, with loamy, slightly acidic soil. My garden is host to the squash, amaranth, timpsula (just popping up), hopniss, wild strawberries, prairie onions, showy wild garlic, and fledgling blueberry and raspberry bushes The only plants with damage are my squash, amaranth, and a tiny bit on the hopniss.
Any help you can provide would be much appreciated!
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
I'm sorry but the photos are impossible to see the insect in so I can't offer any opinion about it. About all you can do is hand pick if possible, use an insecticidal soap or an insecticide labeled for garden edibles. You might also try hosing them off but you don't want to keep the squash too wet or you could end up with a fungal disease.