In addition to transmitting disease, the corn flea beetle damages corn leaves by feeding. Feeding damage appears as thin brown stripes on the leaves. When seedlings are growing rapidly, this feeding damage is not usually harmful. During a prolonged cool period when seedlings are growing slowly, feeding can be serious enough that damaged leaves will die. Its fat hind legs contain muscles that make it a strong jumper.
Adults are most active on sunny, warm, windless days.
They hide in cracks in the soil during windy, cool, or cloudy periods. After feeding and mating, adult females lay eggs at the base of host plants. Larvae feed on corn roots and are full grown in about two weeks. There are at least two generations per year in Ohio. The beetle overwinters as an adult in the soil with a preference for bluegrass sod.