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Mexican bean beetles are round, copper-colored insects with 16 black spots on the wing covers. They are about 5/16 inch long. The yellow, soft-bodied larvae are up to 7/16 inch in length and covered by branched spines.
Both adults and larvae feed by stripping away the surface tissue primarily on the underside of leaves. Remaining tissue dies and turns brown to give the foliage a burned, lacy appearance. As soybean foliage matures, the beetles may feed on stems and green pods, leaving superficial scars. This pest is found throughout the South and in parts of the Midwest. |
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| Florida | N. Carolina | ||||||||