Assortment
Fleas are small beetles that mainly live on cruciferous plants (Brassicaceae). This family includes cauliflower, kale, broccoli, Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi, bok choy, radishes, Brussels sprouts, watercress and white cabbage. They also occur on other plants such as sugar beets and chicory. The leaves of young plants in particular are eaten and show small holes.
The last few years have been ideal for the flea beetle. Warm and dry conditions make them very active and they have been able to build up a large population. The flea beetle has 2 generations; the first early in May and the peak from mid-July to late August.
In 2018-2020, Inagro in Belgium carried out field trials with covering bok choy with insect netting as part of the CCBT project "Earth fleas". These tests showed that the lightweight and fine-mesh insect netting Ornata light performed the best. This insect screen has a mesh size of 0.6x0.66 mm and a weight of only 45 gr/m². No damage was seen under this mesh and not a single flea beetle has been found.
These findings were also confirmed in a so called growth-chamber-experiments by means of a stress test. A stress test shows whether the flea beetles have the ability to crawl through the nets; Ornata light did not let a single flea beetle through.
The lightweight, fine-meshed insect screen against the flea beetle is now in stock in the size 13x100 m. Would you like to receive the data sheet and a sample card for this product? Please contact us and we will send you the information.
