What are these insects on pole butterbeans?
Bean plataspids, Megacopta cribraria (F.), commonly known as “kudzu bugs.”
Cory Tanner, ©2024, Clemson University
The insects pictured are bean plataspids, Megacopta cribraria (F.), commonly known as “kudzu bugs.” They are an invasive plant pest from Asia. First reported in the US in 2009 near Atlanta, GA, they are now found from Louisiana to Virginia and are reported from all counties in South Carolina. Their initial invasion was massive, but fortunately, local populations have decreased to a manageable level in our state. Kudzu bugs belong to the true bug order (Hemiptera) and are related to stink bugs. Adults are roughly the size of lady beetles and a dark green color. As stink bug relatives, they produce a foul odor when disturbed, and at times, I can smell them just driving by infested kudzu patches. Kudzu, of course, is a legume, and this pest specializes in leguminous plants. As its common name suggests, it especially favors kudzu, another invasive organism from Asia. However, other wild and cultivated legumes are suitable hosts, including green beans, butter beans, soybeans, and wisteria. Like stink bugs, kudzu bugs are sap feeders that use piercing-sucking mouthparts to extract plant sap from leaves, stems, flowers, and seed pods. They feed in all nymphal stages as well as adults. While they can be a significant pest on soybeans, bean plataspids are not major pests of horticultural beans and rarely require management. If populations become excessive and necessitate management action, products labeled for stink bug management in beans are appropriate.
