Cabbage-stem flea beetle

The cabbage-stem flea beetle is a small shiny beetle, usually 3-4mm long, with a greenish-bronze colour and large back legs that help it jump. Its head looks quite big and has a golden-green shine. You can mostly see the adults in spring and autumn, while the larvae make tunnels inside brassica stems during winter. This beetle is common across the UK and much of Europe. It is often found in farmland, gardens, and field edges where plants like cabbages grow. The adults eat the leaves of oilseed rape, cabbages, and other similar plants, leaving small holes in the leaves. The cabbage-stem flea beetle has become a bigger problem for farmers, especially in oilseed rape crops. The larvae tunnel inside the plant stems, which can seriously harm young plants as they start to grow.