Editors: W.T. Wilsey, C.R. Weeden and A.M. Shelton

 

Mexican Bean Beetle - Damage to Bean
 
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All kinds of garden and field beans as well as soybeans and cowpeas are attacked by the Mexican bean beetle, the most serious pest of beans. If overwintering beetle populations are high, seedling damage may occur, though economic damage usually does not occur before August.

Both the adult and larva feed on the under surface of the leaves leaving the upper surface intact. Damaged plants have a characteristic lace-like (skeletonized) appearance which is not easily confused with other insect injury. The remaining tissues die in about 2 days and turn brown, often giving the entire field a "burnt" cast, and yields are reduced from damaged plants. Shredded plants may die before any crop is matured, and pods and stems are often attacked, also.

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How to manage Mexican bean beetle on bean
Return to Mexican bean beetle life cycle

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Information on this page is from:

Insects of Beans: Cornell Cooperative Extension factsheet number 139VCFS770.00 authored by A. A. Muka.
and
Insect and related Pests of Vegetables,
Kenneth A. Sorensen and James R. Baker, eds., Center for Integrated Pest Management, North Carolina State University. URL: http://ipmwww.ncsu.edu/AG295/html/mexican_bean_beetle.htm

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Maintained by YL236@cornell.edu. Last updated March 25, 2001.