Flea Beetle Life Cycle - USDA-ARS TEAM Leafy Spurge spurge flea beetles spend most of their lives...
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Leafy spurge flea beetles spend most of their lives – about 80 percent – under- ground, and do most of their damage to the weed during that time. The life cycle starts with adult flea bee- tles (upper left), which are active from June through August. During this phase of the life cycle, which lasts 45-60 days, adults feed on leafy spurge, mate and lay eggs in the soil near leafy spurge plants. The eggs hatch in about two weeks (upper right, egg and larvae emerging from egg). Larvae then burrow down into the soil and begin feeding on leafy spurge roots and shoots (lower right). As fall approaches and temperatures cool, larvae burrow deeper into the soil and spend the winter in dormancy. When temperatures warm up in the spring, the larvae break dormancy and resume feeding on leafy spurge roots. The larvae then pupate (left) and emerge as adults ready to start the cycle over again. flea beetle life cycle flea beetle life cycle
Transcript of Flea Beetle Life Cycle - USDA-ARS TEAM Leafy Spurge spurge flea beetles spend most of their lives...
Leafy spurge flea beetles spend most oftheir lives – about 80 percent – under-
ground, and do most of their damage tothe weed during that time. The life cyclestarts with adult flea bee-
tles (upper left), which areactive from June through August. Duringthis phase of the life cycle, which lasts
45-60 days, adults feed on leafy spurge,mate and lay eggs in the soil near leafyspurge plants. The eggs hatch in about two weeks (upper right, egg
and larvae emerging from egg).Larvae then burrow down into the soil
and begin feeding on leafy spurgeroots and shoots (lower right). As fallapproaches and temperatures cool,
larvae burrow deeper into the soil andspend the winter in dormancy. When
temperatures warm up in thespring, the larvae break dormancy
and resume feeding on leafy spurge roots. Thelarvae then pupate (left) and emerge as adults ready
to start the cycle over again.
flea beetle life cycleflea beetle life cycle
