Grownup Mexican bean beetles are oval yellowish-brown to copper-colored beetles with 16 black spots on their wing covers. They’re ¼-inch lengthy and glance one thing like a woman computer virus.
Bean beetle larvae are fats yellowish or orange humpbacked grubs with lengthy branching spines 5/16-inch lengthy.
Mexican bean beetle larvae and adults feed on snap beans, lima beans, soybeans, mung beans, and cowpeas. They are able to skeletonize leaves and go away crops significantly defoliated. Additionally they now and again devour bean-family plants and culmination.
Mexican bean beetles are a species of woman beetles (woman insects) however in contrast to advisable species of woman beetles which feed on pest bugs, bean beetles assault and will break goal crops. Bean beetles can trip lengthy distances to search out new resources of meals.
Adults bean beetles overwinter in lawn particles and weedless fields then emerge from dormancy in past due spring when temperatures achieve into the 60°sF. Grownup women lay clusters of fifty to 75 yellow, oval eggs at the undersides of bean plant leaves. The eggs hatch in 5 to fourteen days and the larvae then feed for a couple of weeks prior to pupating beneath the leaves.
Bean beetles are maximum energetic right through midsummer. In heat areas, there are 4 generations of Mexican bean beetles every yr.
Bean beetles are discovered all over america particularly within the East and in moister areas of the West.
Goal Crops: Mexican bean beetle larvae and adults feed on snap beans, lima beans, soybeans, mung beans, and cowpeas. Additionally they assault summer season and wintry weather squash.
Feeding Conduct and Injury: Adults and larvae feed at the decrease surfaces of leaves, skeletonizing the leaves. Huge infestations will feed on bean pods and stems. They go away characteristically lacy harm to leaves. Serious defoliation might kill crops.
Natural Controls: Handpick larvae and adults day-to-day in small bean patches. Duvet crops with floating row duvet till crops are sufficiently big to resist harm. Spray serious infestations weekly with neem or pyrethrin.
Natural Keep an eye on Calendar: Here’s what you’ll be able to do seasonally to keep watch over Mexican bean beetles:
- Ahead of planting: Flip beneath bean crop residues. Develop a entice crop of bush lima beans which is able to draw in bean beetles; then handpick and break them. Draw in advisable predators to the lawn by means of planting dill, parsnips, Queen Anne’s lace and white clover. Liberate spindled solider insects to keep watch over early generations of bean beetles; free up parasitic wasps when climate warms. Plant early-season bush beans to keep away from primary beetle generations.
- At planting time: Plant your primary bean crop early within the season or past due within the season; to keep away from probably the most damaging generations of bean beetles. Sprinkle a diatomaceous earth barrier round every plant; you’ll be able to additionally mud stems and leaves. Position spun poly row covers over crops to exclude beetles; lay the quilt without delay at the crops and seal the perimeters on the floor with soil. Position aluminum foil sheets across the base of crops; beetles will see blue sky mirrored within the foil and fly previous the fairway bean crops.
- Whilst plants increase: Handpick and overwhelm eggs–teams of 40 to 60—discovered at the undersides of leaves. Handpick beetles and overwhelm them between your palms or drop them into soapy water. If the infestation will get out of keep watch over, use pyrethrum. Pyrethrum paralyzes bean beetles on touch; make two programs 3 days aside.
- After harvest: Fall cleanup can a great deal cut back the inhabitants of bean beetles within the lawn the next rising season. Pull up all infested crops as quickly because the harvest is done; put the vines in a transparent plastic bag and position the bag within the solar for every week or so; the beetles won’t live on. Depart the soil naked after cleanup in order that birds can devour any beetles that stay.
Herbal Predators: Woman insects devour bean beetles additionally anchor insects, murderer insects, bigeyed insects, centipedes, pirate insects, spiders, spined soldier beetles, and tachinid flies. Many songbirds devour bean beetles; toads devour bean beetles.
Medical Title: Epilachna varivestis
