Pests > Pests Entities > Insects > Beetles > Flea beetle Phyllotreta vittata cabbage. Indonesia



Pests > Pests Entities > Insects > Beetles > Flea beetle Phyllotreta vittata cabbage. Indonesia

Pests Pests Entities Insects Beetles Flea beetle Phyllotreta vittata cabbage. Indonesia

Flea beetle Phyllotreta vittata, cabbage, Indonesia

August 2013. The flea beetle, Phyllotreta vittata, was found on cabbage in Indonesia and a question was asked on its economic importance.

The email was sent to the Australian Museum for comment. The reply said: “There is no such species as vittata – it is a junior synonym of striolata, presumably the member is referring to one of the striped species. There are a number of striped species of Phyllotreta, and to id any specimen it was be necessary to see a reasonably close up of the male, preferably the dissected genitalia”.

Later, another email from teh Australian Museum saying, “There is a Phyllotreta vittata which is a junior synonym of P. striolata. But I think the widespread species in SE Asia is undulata not striolata (at least this is true of the Pacific, NZ & Australia where only undulata occurs)”.

Phyllotreta species are transmitters of brassica viruses, so they are important. They also feed on weedy mustards, cresses etc, so field hygiene is useful.