Although it is just one-quarter of an inch long, the Bean Leaf Beetle can be a destructive pest for soybeans. Here are some things you need to know about this insect...
Picture provided by Purdue University.
Identification: According to the University of Illinois Extension Field Crop Scouting Manual, this insect can be several colors, including red, yellow, tan, and green! A distinct black band can often be found around the outer edge of the wing covers. You can always spot a black triangle behind their heads. Usually, there are two black spots on each wing cover.
Picture provided by the University of Minnesota.
Injury: Bean leaf beetle damage is normally caused by adults feeding on soybean leaves (but larvae can cause damage to the soybean roots). There can be 1-3 generations depending on the location within the U.S. They leave small round holes between leaf veins. These beetles may feed on blossoms or pods later in the season. Pod clipping may result in a complete loss and pod feeding can create scars that allow pathogens to enter. The University of Illinois Extension states that, “Bean leaf beetles are also capable of transmitting several pathogens, such as bean pod mottle virus, cow pea mosaic virus, and southern bean mosaic virus.”
Threshold Guide: The University of Minnesota Extension recommends these management thresholds. However, be sure to check with a local agronomist for area-specific information.
You can learn more at the following websites, which were used in this article: https://extension.umn.edu/pest-management/bean-leaf-beetles; https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/fieldcropsipm/insects/bean-leaf-beetle.php
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