Q. A few days ago my rose
bushes were swarmed with small black (iridescent) flying beetles and they’ve
cleaned out most of my roses. They also wiped out my one strawberry plant.
bushes were swarmed with small black (iridescent) flying beetles and they’ve
cleaned out most of my roses. They also wiped out my one strawberry plant.
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| Flea beetle ataxic grape leaves leaving holes |
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| Flea beetles aren’t very large but they are small, black and iridescent |
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| If enough of them come through this is the kind of damage they can do in a short time |
A. I have not seen them
but flea beetles come to mind this time of year. They are small, black and
iridescent. This is the time of year they are normally active as well again in
the fall.
but flea beetles come to mind this time of year. They are small, black and
iridescent. This is the time of year they are normally active as well again in
the fall.
They
normally come in large swarms devouring a lot of soft leaves including roses,
strawberries, grapes to name a few.
normally come in large swarms devouring a lot of soft leaves including roses,
strawberries, grapes to name a few.
In
about two weeks they will be gone as quickly as they appeared. The plants will
grow back. I would not recommend anything to spray but simply wait until they
are gone then give the plants a deep watering and fertilizer so they recover
quickly.
about two weeks they will be gone as quickly as they appeared. The plants will
grow back. I would not recommend anything to spray but simply wait until they
are gone then give the plants a deep watering and fertilizer so they recover
quickly.