| I have a large veggie garden. I grew pole beans to save space. My beans are starting to come out now but I have many many bugs on the bean plants. They are the size of a pea and look like a beatle with shiny backs. How do I get rid of them? Will I lose my bean crop? I live In upper Illinois. |
| Since you've discovered the pests in time, I think you can control them before they bother your crop. Ortho Bug-B-Gon Multi Purpose Insect Killer is recommended for control of stink bugs and tarnished plant bugs (wait 3 days after spraying before harvest for snap lima and pole beans, and 21 days for dry beans and dry peas). Neem extracts will control aphids, thrips and spider mites. Carbaryl (Sevin) will control caterpillars, cowpea curculio and bean beetles (wait one day after spraying before harvest). Corn earworms and cabbage loopers can also be controlled by the biocontrol agent Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), in such products as Dipel and Thuricide. Mexican bean beetles can be controlled by carbaryl (wait one day after spraying before harvest) or by one of the specialized Bacillus thuriengiensis strains: var. San Diego or var tenebrionis. More than one application of an insecticide is typically required to control a pest. Always follow all label directions and observe waiting periods until harvest. |
