I am currently starting an institutional farm in Beni, Bolivia and I have been using cowpeas as a cover crop. They did great for a while until they were about at half production and I was about to chop and drop them. Then, the beetles arrived and ever since then, they’ve been eating any new cowpea plants that I’ve put out. They eat them so much that the growth is stunted and they are dying. I just transplanted some long beans and found the beetles eating those yesterday too. I have some neem oil that I’ve been trying to use on them, but am wondering if anyone else has some solutions or ideas for this pest problem. I’ll attach a picture of what I’m dealing with. Thank you!
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Hi Ellie,
Have you found any physical insects?
I agree, it does look a lot like bean leaf beetle. Most places I’ve heard of, the threshold is around 20-25% defoliation (pretty high) before taking control measures because they only predate the leaves but it sounds and looks like you are experiencing serious damage! I don’t have any personal experience with controlling leaf bean beetles as my plants have always been able to push through the defoliation.
Are you looking specifically for natural control options?
I hope some ECHO network members with experience with this pest can help you!
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Hi Ellie,
Do you have any photos of the beetle? They are usually hide in groups in clods of earth or under branches or leaf litter. It would be helpful to have a photo to know which is the insect and to be able to help you in the most accurate way.
From what I see, your crop is already badly affected. In that state, I could provide you with the contact/link of two companies that produce bioinputs in Bolivia and have quite effective products, to see if any of them can help you:
PROIMPA: Osmar Mendoza Mendoza +591 76438576
PROBIOMA: Document Details | Insumos
On the other hand, for a next crop, I recommend you to associate with plants that have a strong aroma and can deter/prevent the presence of beetles, for example: mint, rosemary, basil, garlic, dill, cilantro or identify local species useful for this, it would be a nice experiment.
Best of luck!
Katalina
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Yes! I do have a picture of the beetle. I will attach it.
I would love some natural control options. Thank you!
Thank you so much for that information! I just attached a photo of the beetle below in response to another comment. Let me know if you have any more advice. I so appreciate it!!
Dear Ellie,
It is a Diabrótica. The fungus Beauveria bassiana is used in many places as a biological controller of this beetle. But it is not immediate action, so ideally it should be applied when the problem is starting or when the crop is moderately affected.
I have been trying to find out about its use in Bolivia and possible distributors. I was able to get in touch with PROINPA and PROBIOMA. The firts one, has a bioinput based on two biocontrol fungi: Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae. The second one distributes under the name of probiobass.
Bau - Met PROINPA.pdf (935.1 KB)
Folleto Probiobass PROBIOMA.pdf (1.0 MB)
As complementary information, B. bassiana only affects insect pests, is highly specific and does not harm animals or humans, so it is considered a safe biocontroller.
Foliar applications should be made on the crop or plant to be treated. B. bassiana is sensitive to sunlight, so the recommended times for applications should be in the fresh hours of the morning, on cloudy days or in the late afternoon. An application should be made with an atomizer that covers the entire plant, including the underside of the leaves.
I hope this information will be useful to you.
Best of luck!
Katalina