Pest identification
What's eating my dwarf french bean?
Slugs and snails
Signs: Seedlings destroyed at or just above soil level; holes in low-lying leaves; slime trails on stems and pods
Control: Sow under cover and transplant at 8–10 cm height; surround plants with ferric phosphate pellets; use grit mulch; hand-pick at dusk
Black bean aphid (Aphis fabae)
Signs: Black colonies cluster on shoot tips and leaf undersides; leaves curl; growing tips distorted and stunted
Control: Pinch out infested tips immediately; soap spray or neem oil; encourage natural predators; reflective mulch deters winged colonisers
Mexican bean beetle (Epilachna varivestis) — North America
Signs: Adults and larvae skeletonise leaves, eating lower leaf surface and leaving a lace-like appearance; severe infestations defoliate plants
Control: Hand-pick eggs (yellow clusters on leaf undersides), larvae, and adults; neem oil spray; introduce parasitic wasp Pediobius foveolatus; row covers early season
Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)
Signs: Stippling and yellowing on upper leaf surface; webbing on undersides; thrives in hot, dry conditions and weakens pods
Control: Maintain even soil moisture; overhead misting; neem or insecticidal soap; release Phytoseiulus persimilis in polytunnels
Keep dwarf french bean pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Dwarf French Bean pests — FAQ
What is eating my dwarf french bean?
Dwarf French beans are most troubled by slugs at germination and black bean aphids in summer. Mexican bean beetles defoliate plants in North America. Spider mites strike in hot, dry summers. The low bushy habit keeps foliage close to soil, making slug damage particularly common. Early protection is critical to a good crop.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on dwarf french bean?
Seedlings destroyed at or just above soil level; holes in low-lying leaves; slime trails on stems and pods Sow under cover and transplant at 8–10 cm height; surround plants with ferric phosphate pellets; use grit mulch; hand-pick at dusk
How do I get rid of black bean aphid (aphis fabae) on dwarf french bean?
Black colonies cluster on shoot tips and leaf undersides; leaves curl; growing tips distorted and stunted Pinch out infested tips immediately; soap spray or neem oil; encourage natural predators; reflective mulch deters winged colonisers
How do I get rid of mexican bean beetle (epilachna varivestis) — north america on dwarf french bean?
Adults and larvae skeletonise leaves, eating lower leaf surface and leaving a lace-like appearance; severe infestations defoliate plants Hand-pick eggs (yellow clusters on leaf undersides), larvae, and adults; neem oil spray; introduce parasitic wasp Pediobius foveolatus; row covers early season
How do I get rid of two-spotted spider mite (tetranychus urticae) on dwarf french bean?
Stippling and yellowing on upper leaf surface; webbing on undersides; thrives in hot, dry conditions and weakens pods Maintain even soil moisture; overhead misting; neem or insecticidal soap; release Phytoseiulus persimilis in polytunnels