mexican bean bettles
 

Last year, mexican bean bettles took out all of my green beans! i spent hours every week picking them off by hand and squashing the eggs, but i couldnt keep up with them.

I am wondering what i can do to get rid of them now before planting time comes. please share your experience with them and any ideas to combat them.

thanks!

Look up the predatory wasp Pediobius foveolatus, which attacks the bean beetle larvae. There have been some good discussions regarding their use on other forums. You can find a list of potential sources here: [URL]http://www.ct.gov/caes/cwp/view.asp?a=2815&q=376726[/URL]

The only bad news is that the wasps seldom survive over winter, so must be purchased each year. Like most predatory insects, it requires a certain population size of their target host to sustain them & keep them from moving elsewhere... so they would be most effective for large plantings, or if other beans (and soybeans) are grown nearby.

interesting! thanks.