Kudzu bugs attracted to Chinese Noodle Beans - Ask Extension
In 2022 I was given an envelope of Chinese Noodle Beans by a member of the UM Ext Service's Master Gardener team at the university's demo garden by th...
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Kudzu bugs attracted to Chinese Noodle Beans #877940
Asked July 19, 2024, 3:09 PM EDT
In 2022 I was given an envelope of Chinese Noodle Beans by a member of the UM Ext Service's Master Gardener team at the university's demo garden by the Home Arts building at the MD State Fair in Timonium. I'd planned to give it to a friend but fortunately that didn't happen and the seeds weren't planted until spring 2024 in my garden. I planted them in a row of mixed Scarlet Emperor and Kentucky Wonder beans and have in the last couple weeks developed an infestation of kudzu bugs in the 3 bean varieties sharing a section of a hog panel trellis. I'd never seen these bugs before anywhere and spent a lot of time online IDing them. The other two bean varieties I've been planting for years with no significant bug issues and, I've turned up a couple garden blogs specifically noting this insect's affinity to the Chinese Long Bean. I'm writing to suggest that you drop the Chinese long beans from the collection of plant materials that you distribute to gardeners at fairs, home shows, etc.
Anne Arundel County Maryland
Expert Response
Chinese Long Beans aren't of special appeal to Kudzu Bug compared to other legumes, and we receive questions about this insect on a variety of bean plant types every year, especially since the invasive Kudzu vine is present in over half of the state. (The question we replied to just before yours, as it happens, was Kudzu Bug on edamame plants.)
You can knock them off by hand into a cup or pan of soapy water to drown, or contact insecticides like horticultural oil and insecticidal soap might kill them if they don't run or fall off the plant when disturbed by the spray (the spray must contact them directly to work; residues they walk across later will not affect them). Of slightly higher risk to other insects would be the use of pyrethrin, an ingredient in some organic pesticides, whose residues can kill insects for a period of time after a spray is applied. Beneficial insects, like ladybugs, that might wander over a treated area could also be affected, however. No pesticide should be applied while temperatures are over 85 degrees, though, or they risk injuring plant tissues.
If used, follow all label directions on any pesticide chosen, and be sure that it's labeled for use on edible plants (the same ingredients can be used in formulations that are not). Labels will state when applications should stop before harvest, if any amount of time is needed for the product to degrade or wear off (sometimes they can be used up to the same day).
To avoid a repeat of the issue next year (since it's too late to do this now, as it would trap pests in with the plants), and to avoid pesticide use, you can cover legume crops with either insect mesh netting or row cover to exclude pests, especially for the types of vegetable plants that don't require bee pollination visits to produce a harvest.
The seed giveaways by Master Gardeners can vary at different events, and the chosen vegetable type tends to change every year, at least with Maryland Day (in April, on campus) as well as county-level MG events.
Miri
You can knock them off by hand into a cup or pan of soapy water to drown, or contact insecticides like horticultural oil and insecticidal soap might kill them if they don't run or fall off the plant when disturbed by the spray (the spray must contact them directly to work; residues they walk across later will not affect them). Of slightly higher risk to other insects would be the use of pyrethrin, an ingredient in some organic pesticides, whose residues can kill insects for a period of time after a spray is applied. Beneficial insects, like ladybugs, that might wander over a treated area could also be affected, however. No pesticide should be applied while temperatures are over 85 degrees, though, or they risk injuring plant tissues.
If used, follow all label directions on any pesticide chosen, and be sure that it's labeled for use on edible plants (the same ingredients can be used in formulations that are not). Labels will state when applications should stop before harvest, if any amount of time is needed for the product to degrade or wear off (sometimes they can be used up to the same day).
To avoid a repeat of the issue next year (since it's too late to do this now, as it would trap pests in with the plants), and to avoid pesticide use, you can cover legume crops with either insect mesh netting or row cover to exclude pests, especially for the types of vegetable plants that don't require bee pollination visits to produce a harvest.
The seed giveaways by Master Gardeners can vary at different events, and the chosen vegetable type tends to change every year, at least with Maryland Day (in April, on campus) as well as county-level MG events.
Miri
