Large Striped Flea Beetle

Large Striped Flea Beetle - Phyllotreta nemorum

Alternative names
Turnip Flea Beetle or Yellow-striped Flea Beetle
Description

2.5-3mm. The black elytra are marked with broad pale yellow longitudinal stripes that are roughly parallel in shape. Pronotum is black. Antennae are pitchy brown to black. All tibia are unicoloured - dark brown to black. The hind tarsi can be pale.

Identification difficulty
ID checklist (your specimen should have all of these features)
  • 2.5-3mm
  • black elytra with 2 broad pale yellow longitudinal stripes that are roughly parallel in shape
  • pronotum black.
  • antennae not distinctly bicoloured (may have few segments slightly paler)
  • all tibia are unicoloured - dark brown to black (only the hind tarsi are generally pale)
Habitat

It is a pest of brassicas including turnips, the adults feeding mainly on seedlings, leaving them riddled with holes. For this reason it is often found in agricultural fields where brassicas are grown, but also in gardens etc.

When to see it

Spring to late autumn when the adults hibernate.

Life History

Adults hibernate and emerge in spring to breed and lay their eggs. The larvae tunnel in leaves and become new adults in the autumn.

UK Status

Fairly common and widespread in England and Wales, but fewer records from Scotland.

VC55 Status

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 10 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

No additional images available for this species.

All NatureSpot records