Leafy spurge-infested grasslands. Adults feed on leafy spurge foliage and flowers, and high populations may defoliate spurge plants. Larvae burrow into the soil and begin feeding on very small leafy spurge roots and as the grow they feed on larger roots and root buds. Winter is spent in the larval stage. Chrysomelid Flea beetle Photo by R. Richard Aphthona flava Approved for release into the U.S. in 1985.
Large populations are present in Montana and North Dakota.
A. flava is a good control agent, reducing spurge to a few short stems. Many thousands of the beetles have been collected from Canada and a site near Bozeman, Montana for re-distribution. Habitat and feeding habits are the same as above. Winter is spent in the larval stage. Populations are present in several western states, including Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Colorado.