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Bean Leaf Beetle

Overview

The Bean Leaf Beetle (Cerotoma trifurcata) is a significant pest that affects various crops across the United States and Canada, particularly soybeans and other legumes. These beetles are small, typically 1/4 inch long, and can be identified by their yellow, red, or orange bodies with distinct black spots or stripes. They cause damage in two primary ways: by feeding on the leaves, which results in defoliation, and by feeding on the pods, which can lead to direct yield loss and increased susceptibility to diseases.

In soybeans, Bean Leaf Beetles can cause substantial economic losses by reducing photosynthetic capacity and directly damaging the pods, leading to lower seed quality and quantity. The beetles can also transmit bean pod mottle virus, further impacting crop health and productivity.

Photo Credit: Frank Peairs, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org

bean leaf beetle

How to Identify Bean Leaf Beetle

Farmers can identify Bean Leaf Beetles (Cerotoma trifurcata) by observing several specific and detailed characteristics:

Appearance:

  • Size: Bean Leaf Beetles are small, typically about 1/4 inch (6 mm) long.

  • Color: They can vary in color, ranging from yellow to red or orange.

  • Markings: Most Bean Leaf Beetles have distinct black spots or stripes on their wing covers (elytra). Some may have a solid color without spots.

  • Triangle Mark: A key identifying feature is a small, black triangle located behind the head on the beetle's thorax.

Life Stages:

  • Eggs: The eggs are laid in the soil near the base of host plants. They are small, oval, and yellowish.

  • Larvae: The larvae are white with a brown head and can be found in the soil feeding on plant roots.

  • Pupae: The pupae are also found in the soil and are white to cream-colored.

Damage:

  • Leaf Feeding: Adult beetles feed on the leaves, creating small, round holes. This defoliation can reduce the plant's photosynthetic capacity.

  • Pod Feeding: They also feed on pods, causing direct damage that can lead to yield loss and increased susceptibility to diseases.

  • Virus Transmission: Bean Leaf Beetles can transmit bean pod mottle virus, further impacting crop health and productivity.

Monitoring:

  • Scouting: Regular field scouting is essential. Look for beetles on the undersides of leaves and check for feeding damage.

  • Traps: Yellow sticky traps can be used to monitor adult beetle populations.

Photo Credit: Ward Upham, Kansas State University, Bugwood.org

Ward Upham, Kansas State University, Bugwood.org

Geographic Impact of Bean Leaf Beetle

The Bean Leaf Beetle (Cerotoma trifurcata) has a significant geographic impact across various regions in the United States and Canada, particularly affecting soybeans and other legumes. This pest is prevalent in the Midwest, where soybean production is extensive, but it can also be found in other agricultural regions.

Timing of Bean Leaf Beetle Impact

Bean Leaf Beetles typically emerge in the spring when temperatures begin to warm up, usually around late April to early May, depending on the region. They can have multiple generations per year, with the first generation causing the most significant impact on fields. The beetles feed on soybean leaves and pods throughout the growing season, leading to defoliation and direct damage to the pods, which can result in yield loss and increased susceptibility to diseases such as bean pod mottle virus.

How to Manage Bean Leaf Beetles

Farmers can manage Bean Leaf Beetles in their fields using specific insecticides. Two effective products are Willowood Lambda-Cy 1EC and Willowood Imidacloprid 4SC.

  • Willowood Lambda-Cy 1EC: This insecticide contains lambda-cyhalothrin and is labeled for use on soybeans and other legumes to control Bean Leaf Beetles. The typical application rate for soybeans is 2.56 oz/acre, with a range of 1.92-3.84 oz/acre.

  • Willowood Imidacloprid 4SC: This insecticide contains imidacloprid and is also labeled for use on soybeans and other legumes to control Bean Leaf Beetles. The typical application rate for soybeans is 1.5 oz/acre.

These products are available from FBN and can help manage Bean Leaf Beetle populations when used as part of an integrated pest management strategy.

Every product that labels BEAN LEAF BEETLE as a weed, pest, or disease the product can be applied against is shown below. Click any product for label and more information.
Acceleron® I-425 Insecticide Seed TreatmentAcceleron® IX-409Acceleron® IX-409 Insecticide Seed TreatmentAcenthrin™Acephate 90 PrillAcephate 90 Prill Select™Acephate 90 WDGAcephate 90 WSPAcephate 97 WDGAcephate 97UP®Acronyx™ 2 FlowableAcronyx™ 4 FAdage™Adage™ STAdmire® ProAdvise® FourAdvise® FourAlias® 4FAmbush® 25WAmbush® InsecticideAnarchy 30 SGAnarchy 70 WPAnnihilate™ LVAnnihilate™ LV InsecticideAnnihilate™ SPAnnihilate™ SP InsecticideAnniston 70 WP InsecticideArctic® 3.2 ECArgyle™ ODArVida® 30 SG InsecticideArVida® 70 WP InsecticideAsana® XLAssail® 30 SG InsecticideAssail® 30SC InsecticideAssail® 70WP InsecticideAthena™ Insecticide/MiticideAttendant® 480 FSAttendant® 600 FSAvenger™ Bold S3™Avenger™ S3™Avicta® Complete Beans 500Axcess™ Insecticide Seed TreatmentAzomar™Batallion™ 10 WSPBatallion™ 2 ECBatallion™ LFCBaythroid® XLBelay® InsecticideBesiege® InsecticideBi-Dash 2EBifen 2 AG GoldBifen 25% ECBifender® FC InsecticideBifenthrin 2EC InsecticideBifenture® 10DFBifenture® ECBolton™BotaniGard® 22WPBotaniGard® 22WPBotaniGard® ESBotaniGard® ESBotaniGard® MaxxBoteGHA® ESBracket® 90 WDGBracket® 97Bracket® 97 (Soluble Insecticide)Bracket® 97 WDGBrigade® 2EC Insecticide/MiticideBrigade® WSB InsecticideBrigadier® InsecticideButeo® startCapture® 2EC-CALCapture® LFR®Carbaryl 4LCarbaryl 4LCavalry™ IIChlorpyrifos 4E AGChlorpyrifos 4E-AGClariva® Elite BeansCobalt® AdvancedCobalt® InsecticideConsero®Consero® (Gamma-cyhalothrin)Cormoran®Cortes™ Maxx InsecticideCouraze® 4CrossoverCrossover® ProCruiser® 5FSCruiserMaxx®CruiserMaxx® AdvancedCruiserMaxx® APXCruiserMaxx® APX UncoloredCruiserMaxx® EZCruiserMaxx® PlusCruiserMaxx® Vibrance®CruiserMaxx® Vibrance® PulsesCrusader 2MECrusader® 1ECCygon™ LVDebug® ONDebug® ONDebug® OptimoDebug® OptimoDebug® TresDebug® TresDebug® TurboDebug® TurboDeclare® InsecticideDeclare® InsecticideDelta Gold®Dimate 4EDimethoate 2.67Dimethoate 2.67 ECDimethoate 4 EDimethoate 400Dimethoate 400 ECDimethoate 4ECDimethoate LV-4Discipline® 2ECDoubleTake™Dyna-Shield Conquest™Dyna-Shield® Imidacloprid 5Elevest™Elliptica™Endigo® ZCEndigo® ZCXEnhance® AWEquity® VIPEquity™Ethos® XB Insecticide/FungicideExirel® Insect Control (With Cyazypyr®)Fanfare® 2ECFanfare® ECFanfare® ESFastac® CS insecticideFastac™ EC insecticideFirestone™Fortenza®Frenzy AttackFrenzy VelozGaucho® 600 FlowableGaucho® Opti Soybean Seed TreatmentGCS Bifenthrin 2ECGCS Bifenthrin LFCGladiator® Insecticide/MiticideGovern® 4EGrandevo® CGGrandevo® WDGGrizzly® TooGrizzly® Z InsecticideHatchet® InsecticideHero® EWHero® InsecticideHost ECIMAX PlusINOVATE™ Seed ProtectantINOVATE™ System Kit (2 Pieces)INTEGO™ SUITE SoybeansINTEGO™ SUITE SystemIntruder® Max 70WPJustice®Kaiso® 24 WGKarate® InsecticideKarate® with Zeon™ TechnologyKendo® 22.8 CSKendo™ InsecticideKilter®L - C InsecticideLambda TLambda-Cy AGLambda-Cy™ EC Insecticide-RUPLambdafos™ InsecticideLamcap® IILamcap™Lamdec™ InsecticideLancer® 2ECLancer® FCLannate® LVLannate® LV InsecticideLannate® SPLannate® SPLannate® SPLanveer LV™Latitude®Legend™ 5L STLegumeStar™ Select STLeverage® 360Livid® 90 PrillLivid® 97 PrillLorsban® 75 WGLorsban® Advanced InsecticideLorsban®-4E InsecticideLumiderm®Lumisure®Lunge™ InsecticideMacho® 2.0 FLMacho® 4.0 FlowableMacho® 480 STMacho® 600 STMalathion 5Match-Up™ InsecticideMidash 2SC Ag InsecticideMidash Forte InsecticideMinecto® ProMontana® 4FMustang® InsecticideMustang® MaxxMycotrol® ESOMycotrol® ESOMycotrol® WPOMycotrol® WPONipsIt INSIDE® InsecticideNitro Shield®Nitro Shield® IVNudrin® LVNudrin® SPNufarm Lambda-Cyhalothrin 1EC InsecticideNufos® 4E (RUP)Nuprid® 2SC Soil/Foliar InsecticideNuprid® 4F Max InsecticideOmni® Brand Imidacloprid 2F Flowable InsecticideOrthene® 97Paradigm®Paradigm® VCPerm-UP® 25DFPerm-UP® 3.2 ECPermaStar™ AG InsecticidePermethrinPermethrin 3.2 AGPermethrin 3.2 ECPermethrin 3.2 EC (70506-9-5905)Poncho® 600 Seed TreatmentPoncho® VOTiVO®Poncho® Votivo® Precise Seed TreatmentPoncho® Votivo® Seed TreatmentPoncho® XC Seed TreatmentPounce® 25WPPrey® 1.6Proaxis® InsecticideProaxis® InsecticideProaxis™Province® IIProvince™Provoke™Punisher™Ravage®Renestra™ InsecticideResonate™ 480 STResonate™ 600 STRespect® EC insecticideRespect® insecticideReveal®Reveal® CAReveal® Endurx™Revize® Imida STRidgeback™Rimon® 0.83ECRimon® 0.83ECS-FenvaloStarSedaire™ ECSeed Shield® BeansSeed Shield® SoybeanSeeker™ Insecticide with Isoclast™ ActiveSeguroSenator® 600 FSSerpent™ 1 ECSevin® 4FSevin® XLR PlusSharda Imidacloprid 5SCSherpa® InsecticideSilencer®Silencer® VXN™Skyraider®SlugbugSniper®Sniper® Helios®Sniper® LFR®SoyStar™ Elite STSoyStar™ Premier STSoyStar™ Select STSoyStar™ Supreme STSpirato® IMTm 348 FSStallion® BrandSTartUP™ IMIDA Seed TreatmentSteed® InsecticideSteward® ECSteward® ECSultrus™Surround® CF Crop ProtectantSurround® WP Crop ProtectantSwagger®Tailgunner™Tempest™ Dual-Action InsecticideTenkoz® Acephate 97Tenkoz® Permethrin 3.2 ECTepera® PlusTepera® Plus HDTepera® Plus HDTide Acephate 90 WDGTide Imidacloprid 2FTide Imidacloprid 4FTombstone™Tombstone™ Helios®Triple Crown™ InsecticideTundra® EC (1381-196)Tundra® SupremeUpShot™ Soybean Seed TreatmentViloprid™ FC 1.7Voliam Xpress®Voltage Endurx®Vulcan®Warden® CXWarden® CX IIWarhawk®Warhawk® ClearForm®Warrior II with Zeon Technology®Whirlwind®Willowood Bifenthrin 2ECWillowood Imidacloprid 4SCWillowood Imidacloprid 4STWillowood Lambda 1ECWillowood Lambda-Cy 1ECWrangler® InsecticideYuma® 4EZyrate®