Flea beetle

Symptom

Adult beetles remain hidden in the soil during the daytime and become active in the cooler hours of early morning and evening, when they climb onto plants to feed on the leaves. Their characteristic feeding damage appears as round, circular holes created by chewing through the leaf tissue, giving the leaf surface a “shot-hole” appearance. In addition to direct defoliation, these beetles can contribute to bacterial leaf spot disease by creating feeding wounds that allow pathogens to enter the leaf tissue.