Flea beetle

{{Short description|Tribe of small jumping beetles}} {{Automatic taxobox | name = Flea beetles | image = Phyllotreta.vittula.jpg | image_caption = ''Phyllotreta vittula'' with characteristic feeding damage to Brassicaceae leaf | taxon = Alticini | authority = Newman, 1834<ref name=Bouchard2011/> | subdivision_ranks = Genera | subdivision = Many, see text | diversity = >500 genera >8000 species }} [[File:Altica larva.jpg|thumb|''Altica'' species larva]] [[File:Disonycha xanthomelas.jpg|thumb|''Disonycha xanthomelas'']] [[File:Luperaltica nigripalpis.jpg|thumb|''Luperaltica nigripalpis'']]

The '''flea beetle''' is any small, jumping beetle of the leaf beetle family (Chrysomelidae) that is part of the tribe '''Alticini''', which is part of the subfamily Galerucinae. Historically the flea beetles were classified as their own subfamily.

Traditionally, the Alticini were separated from other Galerucinae by the presence of jumping hind legs, characterised by enlarged femora containing a spring structure allowing the flea beetles to jump. Recent phylogenetic studies suggest that jumping hind legs evolved multiple times in the Galerucinae, rather than once, and that several genera should be transferred between Alticini and Galerucinae ''sensu stricto'' (or Galerucini in some classifications).<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Nie|first1=R.-E.|last2=Breeschoten|first2=T.|last3=Timmermans|first3=M.J.T.N.|last4=Nadein|first4=K.S.|last5=Xue|first5=H.-J.|last6=Bai|first6=M.|last7=Huang|first7=Y.|last8=Yang|first8=X.-K.|last9=Vogler|first9=A.P.|year=2017|title=The phylogeny of Galerucinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and the performance of mitochondrial genomes in phylogenetic inference compared to nuclear rRNA genes|journal=Cladistics|volume=34|issue=2|pages=113–130|doi=10.1111/cla.12196|doi-access=free|pmid=34645082 |hdl=10044/1/58308|hdl-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Douglas|first1=H.B.|last2=Konstantinov|first2=A.S.|last3=Brunke|first3=A.J.|last4=Moseyko|first4=A.G.|last5=Chapados|first5=J.T.|last6=Eyres|first6=J.|last7=Richter|first7=R.|last8=Savard|first8=K.|last9=Sears|first9=E.|last10=Prathapan|first10=K.D.|last11=Ruan|first11=Y.|last12=Dettman|first12=J.R.|year=2023|title=Phylogeny of the flea beetles (Galerucinae: Alticini) and the position of ''Aulacothorax'' elucidated through anchored phylogenomics (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticini)|journal=Systematic Entomology|volume=48|issue=3 |pages=361–386|doi=10.1111/syen.12582|doi-access=free|bibcode=2023SysEn..48..361D }}</ref>

==Description and ecology== The adults are very small to moderately sized Chrysomelidae (i.e. among beetles in general they are on the smallish side). They are similar to other leaf beetles, but characteristically have the hindleg femora greatly enlarged. These enlarged femora allow for the springing action of these insects when disturbed. The jumping mechanism of flea beetles has been studied extensively.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Ruan |first1=Yongying |last2=Konstantinov |first2=Alexander S. |last3=Shi |first3=Guanya |last4=Tao |first4=Yi |last5=Li |first5=You |last6=Johnson |first6=Andrew J. |last7=Luo |first7=Xiaozhu |last8=Zhang |first8=Xinying |last9=Zhang |first9=Mengna |last10=Wu |first10=Jianing |last11=Li |first11=Wenzhu |last12=Ge |first12=Siqin |last13=Yang |first13=Xingke |date=2020-02-24 |title=The jumping mechanism of flea beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Alticini), its application to bionics and preliminary design for a robotic jumping leg |journal=ZooKeys |issue=915 |pages=87–105 |doi=10.3897/zookeys.915.38348 |doi-access=free |issn=1313-2970 |pmc=7052025 |pmid=32148424|bibcode=2020ZooK..915...87R }}</ref> One study looked at several species of flea beetles, including the ''Altica cirsicola'' species, and described the jumping mechanism of these beetles to be very efficient.<ref name=":0" /> This study even applied the knowledge gained from the flea beetles to create a preliminary design for a bionic leg that can jump.<ref name=":0" /> Flea beetles can also walk normally and fly. Many flea beetles are attractively colored; dark, shiny and often metallic colors predominate.

Adult flea beetles feed externally on plants, eating the surface of the leaves, stems and petals. Under heavy feeding the small round holes caused by an individual flea beetle's feeding may coalesce into larger areas of damage. Some flea beetle larvae (e.g. of ''Phyllotreta'' species) are root feeders.

In adverse weather conditions (rain, for example) some flea beetles seek shelter in the soil. Some species, such as ''Phyllotreta cruciferae'' and ''P. striolata'', prefer to leave their hideouts only during warm and dry weather. The German name ''Erdflöhe'' (literally "earth fleas") refers to their jumping ability and this behavior of hiding in the soil.

==Relationship with humans== Flea beetles may be beneficial or may be pests, depending on the species.

===Pest===

Many major agricultural crops are attacked by flea beetles, including various cruciferous plants such as mustard and rapeseed. Numerous garden plants are also subject to flea beetle feeding, such as flowers of ''Gardenia'' and ''Rothmannia'' by ''Altica'' species.

Flea beetles execute their most severe attacks during dry weather and are most active on sunny days. The larvae are known to chew roots.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Garden Pest & Diseases Specialist: The Essential Guide to Identifying and Controllong Pests and Diseases of Ornamentals, Vegetables and Fruits |first=David |last=Squire |publisher=New Holland Publishers |year=2007 |isbn=978-1845374853 |page=35 |access-date=November 12, 2012 |url=https://archive.org/details/gardenpestsdisea0000squi }}</ref>

====Companion plant==== {{see also|List of companion plants}} Flea beetles can be deterred by a number of different companion plants, that can be grown intercropped in a garden to benefit neighboring plants. For example, thyme, catnip, and other kinds of mint cover up the scent of nearby plants.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gardentoad.com/companionplants.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701031635/http://www.gardentoad.com/companionplants.html|archive-date=2014-07-01|title=Garden Toad's Companion Plants|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Radishes, on the other hand, can be grown as a trap crop, luring the flea beetles away from more important crops. Since the root isn't harmed by the beetles, they remain useful, themselves.<ref>[http://www.organicauthority.com/organic-gardening/organic-gardening/5-secrets-to-vegetable-garden-companion-planting-revealed.html 5 Secrets to Vegetable Garden, Companion Planting Revealed]</ref>

A number of natural predators can be employed to keep flea beetles in check, including two that parasitize it: braconid wasps and tachinid flies. In both cases, the larval stage feeds on the flea beetle, while the adults feed on nectar and pollen; some species are even important pollinators. To encourage braconid wasps and tachinid flies, some types of flowers can be planted between crops: umbels such as caraway, herb fennel, coriander and ''Ammi majus'', and simple open flowers such as California poppies and pot marigolds, as well as yarrows.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-04-06 |title=Alys Fowler: flea beetle |url=http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gardening-blog/2013/apr/06/flea-beetle-gardening-alys-fowler |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref>

===Beneficial insect=== Other flea beetle species are beneficial, feeding on weeds and similar nuisance plants. A few species have even been introduced to various locations as biological control agents against some weeds. One important example is in the control of leafy spurge (''Euphorbia virgata''), an invasive weed in the United States. It has a toxic latex and is generally avoided by herbivores. Flea beetles of the genus ''Aphthona'' have been successfully introduced to control this plant.

==Selected genera== This genus list is not complete. It is also partially from ITIS and might include genera placed elsewhere in other sources.

{{div col|colwidth=25em}} * ''Acallepitrix'' J.Bechyné, 1956 * ''Acrocyum'' Jacoby, 1885 * ''Afroaltica'' Biondi & D'Alessandro, 2007 * ''Agasicles'' Jacoby, 1904 * ''Altica'' Geoffroy, 1762 * ''Andersonoplatus'' Linzmeier & Konstantinov, 2018<ref name=Linzmeier2018/> * ''Anthobiodes'' Weise, 1887 * ''Aphthona'' Chevrolat in Dejean, 1836 * ''Aphthonoides'' Jacoby, 1885 * ''Apteropeda'' Chevrolat in Dejean, 1836 * ''Argopistes'' Motschulsky, 1860 * ''Argopus'' Fischer von Waldheim, 1824 * ''Arrhenocoela'' Foudras, 1861 * ''Asphaera'' Duponchel & Chevrolat, 1842 * ''Aulacothorax'' Boheman, 1858 * ''Batophila'' Foudras, 1860 * ''Blepharida'' Chevrolat in Dejean, 1836 * ''Capraita'' J.Bechyné, 1957 * ''Cerataltica'' Crotch, 1873 * ''Chaetocnema'' Stephens, 1831 * ''Cornulactica'' Bechyné, 1955 * ''Crepidodera'' Chevrolat in Dejean, 1836 * †''Crepidocnema'' Moskeyko ''et al''., 2010<ref name="Moseyko2010">{{cite journal|first1=Alexey G.|last1=Moseyko|first2=Alexander G.|last2=Kirejtshuk|first3=Andre|last3=Nel|year=2010|title=New genera and new species of leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Polyphaga: Chrysomelidae) from Lowermost Eocene French amber|journal=Annales de la Société Entomologique de France |series=Nouvelle Série|volume=46|issue=1–2|pages=116–123|doi=10.1080/00379271.2010.10697645|bibcode=2010AnSEF..46..116M |s2cid=84998148|doi-access=free}}</ref> * ''Derocrepis'' Weise, 1886 * ''Dibolia'' Latreille, 1829 * ''Disonycha'' Chevrolat in Dejean, 1836 * ''Distigmoptera'' Blake, 1943 * ''Dysphenges'' Horn, 1894 * ''Epitrix'' Foudras in Mulsant, 1859 * ''Glenidion'' H.Clark, 1860 * ''Glyptina'' J.L.LeConte, 1859 * ''Hemiglyptus'' Horn, 1889 * ''Hemiphrynus'' Horn, 1889 * ''Hermaeophaga'' Foudras, 1860 * ''Heyrovskya'' Madar & Madar, 1968 * ''Hippuriphila'' Foudras in Mulsant, 1859 * ''Hornaltica'' Barber, 1941 * ''Kashmirobia'' Konstantinov & Prathapan, 2006 * ''Kuschelina'' J.Bechyné, 1951 * ''Lanka'' Maulik, 1926 * ''Longitarsus'' Berthold, 1827 * ''Luperaltica'' Crotch, 1873 * ''Lupraea'' Jacoby, 1885 * ''Lysathia'' J.Bechyné, 1957 * ''Lythraria'' Bedel, 1897 * ''Mantura'' Stephens, 1831 * ''Margaridisa'' J.Bechyné, 1958 * ''Minota'' Kutschera, 1859 * ''Mniophila'' Stephens, 1831 * ''Mniophilosoma'' Wollaston, 1854 * ''Monomacra'' Chevrolat in Dejean, 1836 * ''Neocrepidodera'' Heikertinger, 1911 * ''Nesaecrepida'' Blake, 1964 * ''Nisotra'' Baly, 1864 * ''Ochrosis'' Foudras, 1861 * ''Oedionychis'' Latreille, 1829 * ''Omophoita'' Chevrolat in Dejean, 1836 * ''Orestia'' Chevrolat in Dejean, 1836 * ''Pachyonychis'' H.Clark, 1860 * ''Pachyonychus'' F.E.Melsheimer, 1847 * ''Palaeothona'' Jacoby, 1885 * ''Parchicola'' J.Bechyné and B.Springlová de Bechyné, 1975 * ''Phydanis'' Horn, 1889 * ''Phyllotreta'' Chevrolat in Dejean, 1836 * ''Podagrica'' Chevrolat in Dejean, 1836 * ''Pseudodibolia'' Jacoby, 1891 * ''Pseudolampsis'' Horn, 1889 * ''Pseudorthygia'' Csiki in Heikertinger and Csiki, 1940 * ''Psylliodes'' Berthold, 1827 * ''Sphaeroderma'' Stephens, 1831 * ''Strabala'' Chevrolat in Dejean, 1836 * ''Stuckenbergiana'' Scherer, 1963 * ''Syphrea'' Baly, 1876 * ''Systena'' Chevrolat in Dejean, 1836 * ''Trichaltica'' Harold, 1876 * ''Ugandaltica'' D'Alessandro & Biondi, 2018<ref>{{cite journal|first1=Paola|last1=D'Alessandro|first2=Maurizio|last2=Biondi|year=2018|url=https://zookeys.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=23637 |title=''Ugandaltica'' gen. n., a tiny flea beetle from the forest canopy in Central Africa (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini) |journal=ZooKeys|issue=746 |pages=123–136|access-date=3 April 2018|doi=10.3897/zookeys.746.23637|pmid=29674899|pmc=5904385|doi-access=free|bibcode=2018ZooK..746..123D }}</ref> {{div col end}}

<gallery> Apteropeda.orbiculata.jpg|''Apteropeda orbiculata'' Argopistes coccinelliformis01.jpg|''Argopistes coccinelliformis'' amid feeding damage on ''Osmanthus × fortunei'' Batophila rubi - 2014-05-16.webm|''Batophila rubi'' Crepidodera.aurata cropped.jpg|''Crepidodera aurata'' Podagrica.fuscicornis.jpg|''Podagrica fuscicornis'' Altica.lythri.jpg|''Altica lythri''. Note thick hindleg femora Eight-spotted flea beetle (Omophoita cyanipennis octomaculata).JPG|Eight-spotted flea beetle ''Omophoita cyanipennis'' </gallery>

==See also== * List of flea beetle genera

==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name=Bouchard2011> {{Cite journal | title = Family-group names in Coleoptera (Insecta) | date = 2011 | last1 = Bouchard | first1 = Patrice | last2 = Bousquet | first2 = Yves | last3 = Davies | first3 = Anthony E. | last4 = Alonso-Zarazaga | first4 = Miguel A. | last5 = Lawrence | first5 = John F. | last6 = Lyal | first6 = Chris H. C. | last7 = Newton | first7 = Alfred F. | last8 = Reid | first8 = Chris A. M. | last9 = Schmitt | first9 = Michael | last10 = Ślipiński | first10 = S. Adam | last11 = Smith | first11 = Andrew B. T. | display-authors = 4 | url = https://zookeys.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=4001 | doi = 10.3897/zookeys.88.807| doi-access = free | pmid = 21594053 | pmc = 3088472 | journal = ZooKeys | issue = 88 | pages = 1–972 | bibcode = 2011ZooK...88....1B }}</ref> <ref name=Linzmeier2018> {{cite journal | title=''Andersonoplatus'', a new, remarkable leaf litter inhabiting genus of Monoplatina (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini) | first1 = Adelita M.| last1 = Linzmeier| first2 = Alexander S.| last2 = Konstantinov | date = 2018 | journal=ZooKeys| issue = 744| doi = 10.3897/zookeys.744.22766 | url=https://zookeys.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=22766 | pmc = 5904521| pmid = 29670446| pages = 79–138| doi-access = free| bibcode = 2018ZooK..744...79L}}</ref> }}

==External links== {{commons category|Alticini}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20160311024307/http://www.hfrr.ksu.edu/DesktopModules/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=1632 Flea beetle description at Kansas State University] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060630074524/http://www.sel.barc.usda.gov/coleoptera/fleabeetles/fleas.htm The Handbook of Palearctic Flea Beetles] - identification of Palearctic flea beetle genera, along with morphology, host plant information, and literature references * [http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05592.html "Flea Beetles"] by W.S. Cranshaw, Colorado State University Extension entomologist and professor

Category:Alticini Category:Articles containing video clips