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HarvestBench
Bean leaf beetle on a leaf

Photo: ALauriston · CC BY-SA 4.0

Wikimedia Commons source

Garden pest

Bean leaf beetle

Small yellow-to-red beetles that chew round holes in bean leaves and pods.

Crops often hit: Bush beans, Pole beans, Soybean (nearby)

How to identify

  • Yellow, orange, or red beetles with black spots and a black triangle behind the head
  • Round holes in leaves from emergence onward
  • Scarred pods later in the season

Damage: Seedling defoliation and pod scarring.

Control methods

  1. Row cover until flowering if seedlings are hit hard.
  2. Plant when soil is warm so beans outgrow early feeding.
  3. Clean up bean debris after harvest.

What products to use

We list product types and what to check on the label — not brand rankings, prices, or “we tested” claims. Always follow the label for your crop, and prefer the least disruptive option that works.

  • Spinosad or pyrethrin (labeled)

    When: Severe seedling defoliation

    Look for: Bean leaf beetle or leaf beetles listed on beans; evening applications