Epitrix fasciata (Blatchey) - E. cucumeris (Harris) - E. hirtipennis (Melsheimer) - Psylliodes brettinghami (Baley)

Solanaceae flea beetles

General

• Widespread insects from South America to North America and in the Caribbean for E. fasciata and E. hirtipennis; in Polynesia for E. hirtipennis; and in India, Australia and Oceania for P. brettinghami . Des espèces d ' Epitrix ont également été signalées in marine lobster in Mayotte and Reunion.
• Belong to the order of Coleoptera and to the family of Chrysomelidae: subfamily of Alticianae.
• Mainly found on tomato and eggplant.
• Observed in the open field as well as under shelters.

Sensitive botanical family (s)

Affected production areas :

* New Caledonia: P. brettinghami only

Organs attacked

 Symptoms, damage 

• Symptoms :
  • Leaves with small, regular (a few millimeters) and rather rounded blade perforations; they are linked to the parasitism of adult insects which regularly graze and devour the upper and lower surfaces of the leaf blade (figures 1 to 3, 6).
  • Leaves more or less sifted, sometimes taking the appearance of lace and can dry out (figures 4 and 5) .
  • Grazed flower petals (figure 7).
  • Sometimes significant damage, especially on young tender and succulent plant tissues. The larvae do not appear to be parasitic on the roots.
• Signs : Presence of adult insects on the leaves and sometimes the flowers of plants (Figures 3, 6 to 9).
• Possible confusion : In the past, the different species of flea beetles of the genus Epitrix have been confused with those of the genus Leptophysa .

 Biology 

• Development cycle :
  • Eggs laid on the ground at the foot of plants, isolated or in small groups.
  • Whitish larvae developing in the soil at root level: three successive larval stages.
  • Adults of E. fasciata can be identified by their brown coloration and those of E. cucumeris by their black coloration; shiny and metallic in appearance, they are approximately 2 mm in length. They are often present in numbers on the leaves and have the particularity of being lively and jumping if they feel in danger.

 Protection

• Weed the crop and its surroundings.
• Produce the seedlings in an nursery insect-proof .
• Check the sanitary quality of the plants before and during their introduction into the crop or shelter.
• Install  canvases  insect-proof in the nursery, on the rows in the open field when planting, and at the openings of shelters when weather conditions allow.
• Mulch the culture to limit the emergence of adults.
• Reason the  chemical protection that is possible for this use. Remember to respect the conditions of use of phytosanitary products.
• Treat plants before uprooting in the presence of high pest populations.