text of lifecycle.pdf

flea beetle life cycle

Leafy spurge flea beetles spend most of
their lives -- about 80 percent -- underground,
and do most of their damage to
the weed during that time. The life cycle
starts with adult flea beetles
(upper left), which are
active from June through August. During
this phase of the life cycle, which lasts
45-60 days, adults feed on leafy spurge,
mate and lay eggs in the soil near leafy
spurge plants. The eggs hatch in about two weeks (upper right, egg
and larvae emerging from egg).
Larvae then burrow down into the soil
and begin feeding on leafy spurge
roots and shoots (lower right). As fall
approaches and temperatures cool,
larvae burrow deeper into the soil and
spend the winter in dormancy. When
temperatures warm up in the
spring, the larvae break dormancy
and resume feeding on leafy spurge roots. The
larvae then pupate (left) and emerge as adults ready
to start the cycle over again.