Pest Profile

Bean Leaf Beetle
Cerotoma trifurcata
  • Bean leaf beetle: Adult beetles are white-grey, to orange, or red color variations. Beetles have 4 black spots and a black margin around the back.
  • Bean leaf beetle: Adult beetles are white-grey, to orange, or red color variations. Beetles have 3 black spots and a black margin around the back.
  • Bean leaf beetle feeding resulting in holes in soybean leaves.

Pest Description

The bean leaf beetle is red to light tan and about 1/4 inch long. The upper back is marked by six black spots near the midline and is bordered by a narrow black band. Insects react to disturbance by dropping to the ground and remaining motionless. Typically, bean leaf beetles chew oval holes in the foliage for most of the season, causing little economic damage.

Source of information

J.P. Michaud: http://entomology.k-state.edu/extension/insect-information/crop-pests/soybeans/blb.html

Pest photo source

Wendy Johnson, KSU Entomology