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flea beetle

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noun
  1. any leaf beetle of the genera Haltica, Epitrix, etc., the various species of which have the rear legs adapted for jumping.

Origin of flea beetle

First recorded in 1835–45
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for flea beetle

Historical Examples

  • The flea-beetle inflicts much damage on the potato, tomato, eggplant, and other garden plants.

    Agriculture for Beginners

    Charles William Burkett

British Dictionary definitions for flea beetle

flea beetle

noun
  1. any small common beetle of the genera Phyllotreta, Chalcoides, etc, having enlarged hind legs and capable of jumping: family Chrysomelidae . The larvae of many species are very destructive to turnips and other cruciferous vegetables
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012