bean beetle. you can hand pick.

Agree. Larval stage. Unless you have a big field of the crop just mix up a small container of soapy water and toss them in. While doing so keep your eyes peeled for additional clusters of the yellow eggs that haven't hatched yet and remove them.

Dave

I just mush them. It's a little gross, but quick and easy. I'm sure it blocks some of the leaf pores, but... alas...

Thanks for the ID! I haven't seen that many adult Bean beetles but those that were there must have been busy because the larvae are all over the leaves. Found a few egg clusters as well. Thanks again :)

Well these little punks are tearing up my pole beans. I hand pick/squish at least every other day. Yet I still find 1-3 under almost every leaf each time I am in the garden, not to mention the Japanese beetles . I cant keep up and soon I wonder if my beans will be able to handle the defoliation. Has anyone had any success treating them with Neem oil?

Neem no because you have to spray it right on them to have any effect so you might as well pick them. Use Bt and dust or spray the entire plant with it. It doesn't really work on adults but in this stage they ingest it and slowly die.

Dave