Flea beetle

Tiny shiny black beetles that jump like fleas when disturbed. They chew countless tiny round holes in eggplant, radish, arugula, and other leaves — worst on young plants.

• Leaves peppered with tiny round 'shotgun' holes.
• Tiny black specks that jump when you brush the plant.
• Young seedlings stalling or dying from heavy damage.

• Cover young plants with row cover until they're well established.
• Mulch heavily to break the beetles' life cycle in the soil.
• Rotate crops — don't plant eggplant or radish in the same spot two years in a row.