Yield and quality of burley tobacco as affected by feeding of adult tobacco flea beetles, Epitrix hirtipennis (Melsheimer) (Coleoptera : Chrysomelidae)

Insecticidal treatments applied to both early and late planted burley tobacco significantly reduced adult flea beetle populations, but no measureable differences in leaf yield or value were observed. Beetle numbers peaked near the end of July and again in mid-August, reaching maximum numbers of 13 beetles per plant in untreated plots. Beetle population densities were positively correlated with rainfall quantity for both one and two week periods before each count.