Insect
Bean Leaf Beetle
Small oval beetles about 6 mm long, variable in colour from red to tan or yellow, that chew circular holes in bean leaves and sometimes feed on pods.
Symptoms to Look For
- Circular holes scattered across bean leaves
- Pod scarring and entry holes on developing bean pods
- Reduced pod fill and quality on heavily attacked plants
Affected Plants
BeanSoybeanPea
Organic Solutions
Row covers
Cover bean crops from planting with fine insect mesh and remove only for pollination to exclude egg-laying beetles.
Hand removal
Shake plants gently over a sheet in the morning and collect beetles that drop off.
Prevention
- Delay planting until soil has fully warmed to give plants vigorous growth ahead of beetle populations
- Rotate beans to different beds each season
Garden, by Willowbottom recommends only organic, wildlife-friendly solutions. No synthetic pesticides, no harmful chemicals - ever.