The bean leaf beetle, Cerotoma trifurcata, is a member of the leaf beetle family Chrysomelidae and the order Coleoptera. This leaf beetle was first described in 1771. Bean leaf beetle adults can feed on soybean foliage or directly on the pods, and beetles can vector bean pod mottle virus. The majority of economic injury occurs in high-value soybeans, such as food-grade soybeans or soybeans for seed.
By Erin Hodgson, Department of Entomology, and Adam Sisson, Department of Agronomy
By Erin Hodgson and Adam Sisson, Department of Entomology
Maps with data from soybean fields in all 99 Iowa counties show that population densities of bean leaf beetle and other insect vectors of Bean pod mottle virus were relatively low in 2010 and 2011.
The article first published April 12 has been updated with a revised prediction map.
Only nine Iowa counties are predicted to have a moderate risk of the disease, using a new bean pod mottle virus pre-plant prediction model.
