Grape flea beetle

The grape flea beetle occasionally is a serious pest of grapes in Ohio. It is dark metallic greenish-blue or steel-blue and about 3/16 inch long.  The most serious damage occurs in the spring. The flea beetles overwinter as adults and emerge during April.  Upon emergence adult beetles begin to feed upon newly swollen grape buds, chewing holes in the ends and sides.  Such damage destroys the capacity of a bud to develop a primary or secondary shoot.  Once the buds have grown to a length of 1/2 inch or more, the beetles cannot cause significant injury.