Mexican Bean Beetle Larva

Agricultural fields, gardens, and any areas where host legume plants are grown.

In all life stages (larva and adult), the Mexican Bean Beetle feeds exclusively on the leaves of legumes, including beans (common beans, lima beans, snap beans, etc.), cowpeas, soybeans, and sometimes clover and alfalfa. The larva in the image appears to be actively feeding, as indicated by the damage to the leaf.

This specific larva is likely still in the feeding stage, consuming plant material to grow before pupating. Adults are mobile and will fly to find mates and new host plants. They typically lay eggs on the undersides of leaves.

Risks: The Mexican Bean Beetle is a significant agricultural pest. Both the larvae and adults feed on the leaves of bean plants, causing skeletonization (eating away the green tissue between veins) and defoliation, which can severely reduce crop yields. Benefits: There are no direct benefits to humans or the ecosystem from this specific insect; it is primarily known as a pest.