''Systena frontalis'', the red-headed flea beetle, is a species of flea beetle in the family

Chrysomelidae The insects of the beetle family Chrysomelidae are commonly known as leaf beetles, and include over 37,000 (and probably at least 50,000) species in more than 2,500 genera, making up one of the largest and most commonly encountered of all beetle ...

. It is found in North America. It is named for its red colored head that contrasts its black body. Like other flea beetles, it has powerful saltatorial hind legs specialized for jumping. Like all beetles, this insect is holometabolous The larvae are off white in color, 5-10mm in length, have a sclerotized head capsule and a short posterior protrusion. It is a common insect pest in the eastern United States. Although its origin is uncertain, S. frontalis is thought to be a native species. It has become a highly destructive pest of ornamentals in nurseries. In these nurseries, there is often a zero tolerance for damage it inflicts. Consumers are unlikely to purchase plants that have even slight damage. It creates "extensive perforations" in the leaves while feeding on common ironweed, ''

Vernonia fasciculata ''Vernonia fasciculata'', the smooth ironweed or common ironweed, or prairie ironweed is a species of perennial plant from family Asteraceae. It is native to Manitoba in Canada and the north-central U.S.A. ''Vernonia fasciculata'' inhabits areas ...

''. It is also known to enjoy hydrangeas. Currently, researchers are looking to better understand its phenology and biology to come up with more sustainable pest management practices as opposed to the frequent spraying of pesticides.

Lifecycle

''Systena frontalis'' produces one generation a year under natural conditions, but when infesting the container production of plants it may have up to four generations per year, each generation includes egg, larva, pupa, and adult, it overwinters as eggs.

Host plants

Some of the nursey plants that is feeds on include: cranberry, ''

Hydrangea paniculata ''Hydrangea paniculata'', the panicled hydrangea or limelight hydrangea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae native to southern and eastern China, Korea, Japan and Russia (Sakhalin). It was first formally described by Phil ...

'', '' Itlex glabra'', ''Rosa'', '' Rhododenron'', ''

Osmanthus fragrans ''Osmanthus fragrans'' (lit. "fragrant osmanthus"; Chinese: , ''guìhuā'', and , ''mùxī''; ; Shanghainese: ''kue35 ho53''; ja, 木犀, ''mokusei''; hi, , ''silang''), variously known as sweet osmanthus, sweet olive, tea olive, and fra ...

'', ''

Salvia ''Salvia'' () is the largest genus of plants in the sage family Lamiaceae, with nearly 1000 species of shrubs, herbaceous plant, herbaceous perennial plant, perennials, and annual plant, annuals. Within the Lamiaceae, ''Salvia'' is part of the ...

'', '' Cornus''., '' Sedum'', ''

Viburnum ''Viburnum'' is a genus of about 150–175 species of flowering plants in the moschatel family Adoxaceae. Its current classification is based on molecular phylogeny. It was previously included in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae. The membe ...

'', '' Loropetalum chinense'', ''

Forsythia ''Forsythia'' , is a genus of flowering plants in the olive family Oleaceae. There are about 11 species, mostly native to eastern Asia, but one native to southeastern Europe. ''Forsythia'' – also one of the plant's common names – is ...

'', ''

Lagerstroemia ''Lagerstroemia'' (), commonly known as crape myrtle (also spelled crepe myrtle or crêpe myrtle), is a genus of around 50 species of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs native to the Indian subcontinent, southeast Asia, northern Australia ...

'', '' Buddleija'', '' Abelia'', ''

Gardenia ''Gardenia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the coffee family, Rubiaceae, native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, Madagascar and Pacific Islands, and Australia. The genus was named by Carl Linnaeus and John Ellis aft ...

'', ''Guara'', ''

Illicium ''Illicium'' is a genus of flowering plants treated as part of the family Schisandraceae,

'', '' Pyracantha'', and ''

Myrica cerifera ''Myrica cerifera'' is a small evergreen tree or large shrub native to North and Central America and the Caribbean. Its common names include southern wax myrtle, southern bayberry, candleberry, bayberry tree, and tallow shrub. It sees uses both i ...

''.

Gallery

File:Red-headed flea beetle; Systena frontalis.jpg, Dorsal view File:Red headed flea beetle larvae.jpg, Dissecting microscope view of late

instar An instar (, from the Latin '' īnstar'', "form", "likeness") is a developmental stage of arthropods, such as insects, between each moult (''ecdysis''), until sexual maturity is reached. Arthropods must shed the exoskeleton in order to grow or ass ...

larva. Found in potted Japanese holly in

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

References

Alticini Beetles described in 1801 Articles created by Qbugbot {{Galerucinae-stub