Bean leaf beetle: Predicted peak first-generation dates

Abstract

<p>Bean leaf beetle feeding on soybean pods can lead to significant reductions in seed quality and yield. Management during the pod setting and filling stages can be frustrating because beetles may feed on pods for a couple of weeks before the population reaches the economic threshold. In this situation, some loss in seed quality and quantity occurs before an insecticide application can be economically justified. Several years ago, Larry Pedigo and his students in the Department of Entomology developed research-based information to help make a management decision for second-generation bean leaf beetles based upon the population size of the first-generation bean leaf beetles.</p>