Bug FAQRed-headed Systena
Systena frontalis · Order: Coleoptera · Family: Chrysomelidae
Also called: Red-headed Flea Beetle
Source: Wikipedia
The red-headed flea beetle has a bright red head and a black body, while its larvae are off-white and 5 to 10 mm long. It feeds on leaves of ironweed and hydrangeas, creating extensive holes that can ruin ornamental plants in nurseries.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Adults are recognized by a red head that stands out against a black body. Larvae are off-white, 5 to 10 mm long, with a hardened head capsule and a short rear protrusion.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
It is especially damaging to ornamental plants in nurseries.
Source: Wikipedia
How to get rid of it
Researchers are studying its biology to develop more sustainable management methods than frequent pesticide sprays.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It occurs throughout North America.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Adults feed on common ironweed, making large perforations in the leaves. They also feed on hydrangeas.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
In natural settings it produces one generation per year, but up to four generations can occur in container plant production. Each generation passes through egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages. It overwinters as eggs.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is thought to be a native species of North America.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 39 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, New York, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What plants does the red-headed flea beetle damage?
It feeds on ironweed and hydrangeas, creating large holes in the leaves that can ruin ornamental plants.
Source: Wikipedia
How many generations can it have in a year?
In natural conditions it has one generation per year, but in container plant production it may produce up to four generations.
Source: Wikipedia
How does the red-headed flea beetle survive the winter?
It overwinters in the egg stage.
Source: Wikipedia
How is this beetle being managed?
Scientists are researching its life cycle to create pest-management strategies that rely less on pesticide spraying.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Chrysomelidae)
Spotted Cucumber BeetleDiabrotica undecimpunctataDamages trees, gardens or crops
Bean WeevilAcanthoscelides obtectusDamages trees, gardens or crops
Cowpea WeevilCallosobruchus maculatusDamages trees, gardens or crops
Swamp Milkweed Leaf BeetleLabidomera clivicollisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Alder Leaf BeetleAgelastica alniDamages trees, gardens or crops
Dogbane Leaf BeetleChrysochus auratusSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systena_frontalis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.