Okay, it looks like the bug on your bean leaf is a squash bug -- kinda hard to tell since it's shaded, but I think that's what it is. They're quite happy to eat bean leaves instead of squash leaves if that's all they can find.

The first picture appears to be small holes, not spots. Is this right? It looks like flea beetles have been at the leaves, and they love beans!

I don't know what the white fuzzy stuff is, but I'd remove it and hope it was a fluke or something harmless rather than a fungus caused by moisture.

So, in your shoes I'd research squash bug controls and flea beetle controls, and GardenWeb Search is a great place to start!

Maybe someone else can help you identify that white cottony stuff.

There are always insects around, and I admire any first-time gardener who wants to take the trouble to identify problems BEFORE going off half-cocked! It will serve you and your plants well.

The bug picture does not look like a squash bug to me though it is out of focus.

Try examining your plants for pests at many different times of day and night. Also look around on the soil directly below the plants for insects.

Jon

Hi michelle - It can be a challenge the first time out. ;) Shoot! it can be a challenge the 60th time out too but hang in there.

First, some general observations, ok? In most of the NE it is too soon for beans and cool soil temps will do them in faster than anything. Beans are normally direct seeded rather than transplanted as they honestly prefer to avoid that shock if possible.

Your first pic is nothing more than some wind damage and the plant would have tolerated that except that it died from too wet and too cold soil transplant shock (best guess from the photo).

The holes in the leaves definitely indicate a pest of some kind but I can't tell whta it is from the picture - too dark and blurry. He doesn't look like any of the classic bean pests and my best guess from the pic is blister beetle even tho it seems too early for him in the NE. But that is his kind of leaf bites and his shape and color. See photos link below.

So what kind of seedlings are waiting inside to be planted, what is your soil temp running, what has your weather been like - lots of extra rain? Gardening zone 5, right?

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Blister beetles

Hi everyone, and thanks very much for the replies.

Anney: The first picture is actually spots, not holes. Weird, huh? They completely look like holes from a distance.

Hatchjon: Sorry about the photo quality! I've got a great camera, but the lens isn't good enough for close shots like this. I hope to do a more thorough pest-search when the weather clears up.

Dave: What would be the ideal time to plant beans? I know I put mine in too early, but they had grown so fast indoors that I couldn't figure out how to keep them healthy there. It seems like the seedlings sprout up really well, get big, and then start failing at a certain size. I moved them hoping they'd perk up. (Next time I will be sure not to start so early--I figured I'd have a lot more failure getting the seeds to grow!)

And yes, Zone 5 here. The rain has been *awful* this week. (Of course, every other non-vegetable type of plant in the yard is loving it.) Soil temperature? Well, the Internet tells me it's 50-55 F today.

Indoors, I've got growing squash, tomatoes, carrots, onions, corn, parsley, romaine lettuce, watermelon (just to see if I can), gourds, a few remaining cucumbers and a load of herbs. The squash has already grown quite tall and isn't doing so hot. I wonder if they would do better in deeper soil?

As for my insect friend there, he looks similar to the blister beetle pictures but not identical. I'll have to give the garden a good search for more of 'em, to be sure.

Here's to jumping right in, mistakes and all. ;)

Hi Michelle -

Welcome to your first year of gardening!

First, did you harden off your seedlings before planting them in the ground? If not, your first task should be to search on "hardening off plants", very important. If you didn't gradually adjust them to the outdoors, your wind damage and wilting could be from moving the outside too quickly.

As for the bug: definitely NOT a squash bug. Even blurry. The body shape and posture remind me of one of the flies. I can't think which one at the moment (and can't find my book), but that fly is either a good bug or a harmless one.

For the leaf damage/holes, my guess would be slugs. With the rain, they have been atrocious in my garden. Go outside at night with a flashlight and check under the leaves. I used an iron phosphate based bate (Sluggo, etc) for the first time this year. It's organic, safe around pets and should only kill the slugs. Or, you can try cat food cans with beer. They love beer and drown in it.

The small white spots could also be flea beetles. The more people I talk to in the Philadelphia area, the more stories I hear about really bad flea beetles this year.

I should know what the white stuff is. I know I've seen it before. An chance of getting a less blurry picture? It can be tricky unless you have a macro function on your camera. My gut instincts are saying the fluff is from one of the trees that are pollinating right now.

Just a note about your squash: it does not transplant well if the roots are disturbed, especially if it is big and root bound. You could try to transplant yours, but you may just want to direct seed in the garden.

Good luck!
Bellatrix