Problem Identifier Unit Screen//v.w/ RR Template

Problem Identifier Unit Screen//v.w/ RR Template Flea Beetles

Problem
From May to October, dichondra leaves turn brown, first along the edges of the lawn, then progressing toward the center. Small round holes like shot holes are chewed in the upper surfaces of the leaves. To determine if this is an insect problem, spread a white handkerchief on the border between a damaged area and a healthy area. Black insects, about 1/25 inch long, will hop onto the white cloth, where they are easily seen.

Analysis
The adult flea beetle is the most damaging pest of dichondra. Although it hops like a flea, it is a true beetle. The adult spends the winter in garden trash and weeds, emerging with the warm spring weather to begin feeding and laying eggs. Damage is spotty at first because the beetles are so small. In a short time, however, they can destroy a lawn. The discoloration of the leaves is often mistaken for drought damage or fertilizer burn.

Solution
Spray the infested dichondra with an insecticide containing diazinon, chlorpyrifos, or carbaryl at the first sign of damage. Water the area first, then apply the insecticide according to the label directions. Repeat once a month throughout the growing season. A healthy planting of dichondra is more resistant to attack from flea beetles than an unhealthy one, and recovers more quickly if it does become infested. Fertilize once a month from March to September.

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