Written collaboratively by Adam Varenhorst, Karla Nelson, Patrick Wagner, Philip Rozeboom, Bradley McManus, Connie Strunk, and Madalyn Shires.
Bean leaf beetles are native insect pests that feed on soybeans. Bean leaf beetles are an issue for cultivated crops like soybean and alfalfa as well as in gardens where they are often observed on green beans (Helm et al. 1983).
In South Dakota, the economic importance of bean leaf beetles varies from year to year. Each spring, extension entomologists at South Dakota State University provide an estimate of bean leaf beetle mortality based on the accumulated cold temperatures for numerous locations across the state. Although the calculated values are not 100% accurate, the goal is to provide an estimate of where overwintering bean leaf beetle populations are likely to be an issue.
