mexican bean bettles

[strax]

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!

[Zeedman]

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: http://www.ct.gov/caes/cwp/view.asp?a=2815&q=376726

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.

[strax]

interesting! thanks.