What's eating my climbing french bean?

Climbing French beans face slugs at seedling stage, black bean aphid colonies in summer, and Mexican bean beetles or spider mites in hot, dry conditions. Rabbits graze emerging shoots readily. Halo blight (bacterial) spreads in wet years. Keep slugs off young plants and knock back aphids early to protect pods.

Dense black colonies on growing tips and undersides of young leaves; shoots distorted; sticky honeydew; pods may be colonised; ants farm the aphids Pinch out aphid-infested shoot tips; insecticidal soap or neem spray; encourage ladybirds and parasitic wasps; avoid excess nitrogen fertiliser

Seedlings and emerging shoots eaten at soil level, especially in cool, wet weather Delay direct sowing until soil is warmer and drier; start seeds under cover; surround with ferric phosphate pellets or grit; check nightly during first 3 weeks

Fine speckling and bronzing on upper leaf surface; fine webbing on undersides in hot, dry spells; severe infestations cause leaf drop and reduced yield Mist foliage to raise humidity; release predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis under cover; neem oil spray; avoid water stress

Clean-cut stems at ground level on newly emerged seedlings; tender growing tips nibbled on established plants Low chicken-wire fence (30 cm below ground + 60 cm above); plant through the established crop season when plants are taller; tree guards on isolated plants