The overall effect is to reduce the carbohydrate reserves stored in the roots. Root Mining Flea Beetles Three species of chrysomelid flea beetles from Austria, Hungary, Italy, and Yugoslavia contribute to the attack on leafy spurge. They get their name from an ability to hop like fleas to escape their enemies. The latter more often has dark brown to black gradations in its coloring. All lay their eggs on spurge stems, about 250 eggs per female.
Adults live up to three months and feed on the leaves of the weed.
The larvae cause even more damage to spurge, mining the primary and secondary roots as well as the fine root hairs, disrupting the vascular tissues. Females live only 24-36 hours and lay an average of 73 eggs on the shoots of leafy spurge. The species can produce 3-5 generations in a single growing season. Larvae feed on the shoots and stimulate the plant to form a tumorlike gall on the shoot tips. This gall keeps shoots from forming flowers or seeds.