Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle vs Narrow-bordered Bombardier

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle Narrow-bordered Bombardier
Scientific Name Psylliodes chrysocephala Brachinus sclopeta
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Chrysomelidae Carabidae
Size 3-4.5 mm 6-9 mm
Habitat Farmland Rivers & Streams
Diet Leaf Miners Omnivores
Regions Europe Mediterranean Europe, North Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle

A dark metallic flea beetle that is a major pest of oilseed rape across Europe. Larvae mine inside plant stems during winter. Has developed resistance to neonicotinoid insecticides in some areas.

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Did You Know?

Became an even more serious pest after the EU ban on neonicotinoid seed treatments in 2018.

Narrow-bordered Bombardier

A Mediterranean bombardier beetle with a narrow body and orange-brown coloring. It shelters communally under stones in dry habitats.

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Did You Know?

Groups of up to 100 individuals have been found sheltering together under a single stone.