Tomato Flea Beetle

Gardens, agricultural fields, and areas with host plants in the Solanaceous family (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants).

Adults chew small, round 'shotholes' in leaves; larvae feed on the roots of host plants.

They are highly active and jump like fleas when disturbed using enlarged hind legs. They overwinter as adults in soil or garden debris and emerge in spring to lay eggs near the base of plants.

Risk: They are significant garden pests that can stunt plant growth, transmit diseases like tomato wilt, and kill young seedlings. They provide no significant benefit to the ecosystem.