Tobacco Flea Beetle vs Meadow Brown

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tobacco Flea Beetle Meadow Brown
Scientific Name Epitrix hirtipennis Maniola jurtina
Order Coleoptera Lepidoptera
Family Chrysomelidae Nymphalidae
Size 1.5-2 mm Wingspan 40-55mm
Habitat Farmland Grasslands
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions North America, Central America Europe
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Tobacco Flea Beetle

A tiny brownish beetle that creates small round holes in tobacco and other solanaceous crop leaves. Larval feeding on roots further weakens plants.

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Did You Know?

Its feeding holes reduce the quality and market value of tobacco wrapper leaves used for cigars.

Meadow Brown

The most abundant butterfly in Britain, a brown species with a single eyespot on each forewing.

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Did You Know?

So common it is often overlooked but plays a crucial role as a pollinator of wildflowers in grasslands.