Corn Flea Beetle vs Sheep Ked
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Corn Flea Beetle | Sheep Ked |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chaetocnema pulicaria | Melophagus ovinus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Chrysomelidae | Hippoboscidae |
| Size | 1.5-2 mm | 4-7 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | North America | Cosmopolitan - worldwide where sheep are raised |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Corn Flea Beetle
A very small, shiny black to bronze flea beetle with a compact, oval body. It vectors Stewart's wilt bacterium, making it both a direct and indirect pest of sweet corn.
Did You Know?
The severity of Stewart's wilt in a given year can be predicted by winter temperatures, since cold winters reduce overwintering beetle populations.
Sheep Ked
A completely wingless, tick-like blood-sucking fly that lives permanently in sheep wool. Its flattened body and strong claws allow it to cling firmly to wool fibers.
Did You Know?
Despite being called a ked or tick, it is actually a true fly that has completely lost its wings through evolution.