Nursery Pests

Redheaded Flea Beetle (RH)

Posted on Jul 21, 2026Share on

Redheaded flea beetle adult. Picture credit: Alfred Daniel Johnson, Tennessee State University.
A close-up picture of a redheaded flea beetle adult.

Redheaded Flea Beetle

(Systena frontalis (Fabricius, 1801))

Rebekka Horn, Graduate Research Assistant, University of Tennessee

Midhula Gireesh, Assistant Professor, University of Tennessee

What are redheaded flea beetles?

Redheaded flea beetles (RHFB) are an important native beetle pest of container-grown ornamental plants. The number of generations per year is dependent on the location, weather, and humidity.

Adult RHFB identification

Adult RHFB are tiny beetles (2.5-6.25mm long) that are metallic black with reddish heads (indicated by the orange arrow in the picture below). Adult RHFB also have long, light-brown serrate (toothed) antennae that are located below the eyes. Additionally, RHFB have enlarged femurs that allow them to jump between plants. Female RHFB are slightly larger than males.

Adult redheaded flea beetle on a rose leaf. RHFB adults are very small.
Adult redheaded flea beetle on a rose leaf. Picture credit: Midhula Gireesh, University of Tennessee.

Lifecycle of RHFB

Eggs: Female RHFB lay oval, pale yellow eggs in potting medium. Eggs are anywhere from 0.7- 0.9 mm in size. This life stage overwinters in the soil.

Larvae: Larvae are creamy-white with a brown head capsule, have 3 pairs of legs, and can be 5.1-10mm long. Larvae are identified by the upward projection with fine hairs at the end of their abdomen. Larvae develop through 3 instars and feed on the roots in the soil.

Pupae: Pupae are in the soil. Adults hatch and are active during late May until October.

Adults: For more information, please see the “Adult RHFB Identification” section.

A detailed redheaded flea beetle life cycle illustration.
Redheaded flea beetle life cycle. Picture credits: Eleanor Lane & Alejandro Del-Pozo, Virginia Tech University (eggs & larvae); Alfred Daniel Johnson, Tennessee State University (adult); Kripa Dhakal, Tennessee State University (leaf). Images adapted by Zee Ahmed, Clemson University.

Hosts & damage of RHFB

Adult RHFB feed on a wide variety of host plant species. Around nurseries, RHFB can feed on weeds as an alternate food source. However, nursery crops and woody ornamentals that are affected include:

  • Panicle hydrangeas
  • Roses
  • Crape myrtle
  • Dogwood
  • Etc.

RHFB can cause extensive damage to foliage in nurseries and landscapes by feeding on the upper and lower surfaces of leaves. Damage caused by this pest affects the aesthetic quality and marketability of the affected plants. Damage symptoms include:

  • Necrotic leaf spotting
  • Shot-hole damage/skeletonization of leaves
Two pictures showing the severity and beginning signs of redheaded flea beetle damages.
Severe redheaded flea beetle damages (left) and beginning signs of redheaded flea beetle damage (right). Picture credit: Kripa Dhakal, Tennessee State University

Monitoring for RHFB

Monitoring eggs and larvae of RHFB is challenging as they live in the soil. Here are some tips for monitoring the population in the roots and adults on the leaves:

  • Keeping the soil moist before examining the roots prevents larvae from burrowing in the soil
  • Sticky cards, light cards (adults)

Management for RHFB

Biological control:

  • Entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernema carpocapsae)
  • Entomopathogenic fungi (Beauveria bassiana, etc.)

Cultural control:

  • Weed management around the nursery
  • Avoid placing newly propagated plants near the infested plants

Chemical control – the following active ingredients can be used to help control RHFB populations:

  • bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, dinotefuran, etc.

Resources