Chaetocnema pulicaria, also known as the corn flea beetle[1] and clover flea beetle,[2] is a species of flea beetle from Chrysomelidae family, found in Texas, USA[3] and Canada.[4]
The species is black in color, with orange legs and antennae.[3] Their size is quite small, about long.[5]
The females lay eggs in soil, which has plants growing nearby. The eggs hatch in 7 to 14 days into larvae. While in their larval stage, their small, worm-like bodies are white. The larvae feed especially on plants' roots, causing serious damage. Then, they transform into pupae, and a week later, into adults.[5]
The species is known for causing damage to crops. The damaged plants include sorghum, soybeans, sweet corn, small grains, and some vegetables.[6] They feed on both sides of a leaf (upper and lower parts), including epidermis and the veins. They also transmit Stewart's wilt; by removing the leaf tissue from the plant, they open a wound which allows the disease to begin spreading from plant to plant. The disease organism is Pantoea stewartii.
