Early and Midseason Management of Bean Leaf Beetles in Northeast Iowa Soybeans

The beetle leaf beetle can be a serious pest of soybeans. There are three populations of beetles that feed on soybean plants throughout the growing season - the overwintered population at plant emergence, the first generation during late June and July, and the second generation during August and September. The overwintered population can be a serious threat to soybean production because the beetles can transmit bean pod mottle virus – a plant disease that reduces both yield quality and quantity. The objective of this experiment was to measure the performance of several seed treatments and a standard liquid insecticide for control of early season and midseason bean leaf beetles