Pest identification
What's eating my fava bean?
Black bean aphid (Aphis fabae)
Signs: Huge black colonies on shoot tips and flower buds; sticky honeydew; sooty mould; pods distorted.
Control: Pinch out the top 7–10 cm of plant once pods form — removes the colony and helps pods set. Spray remainder with insecticidal soap. Attract hoverflies with companion flowers.
Pea and bean weevil (Sitona lineatus)
Signs: Distinctive U-shaped notches eaten from leaf margins, especially on young plants; adults active in spring.
Control: Damage is rarely fatal to established plants. Protect seedlings with fleece. Keep soil moist; stressed plants suffer more. No spray is usually warranted for garden scale.
Mice (Mus musculus, Apodemus sylvaticus)
Signs: Seeds dug up and eaten shortly after sowing; gaps appear in rows with small excavations visible.
Control: Sow in pots indoors and transplant. Use mouse traps along plot edges. Cover sown rows with wire mesh pinned to the soil until germination.
Keep fava bean pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Fava Bean pests — FAQ
What is eating my fava bean?
Fava beans are most heavily hit by black bean aphids, which mass on growing tips in spring. Chocolate spot fungus (triggered by stress) and pea/bean weevil notching are also common. Mice steal sown seeds; birds peck emerging seedlings. Pinching aphid-laden tips early is the single most effective action.
How do I get rid of black bean aphid (aphis fabae) on fava bean?
Huge black colonies on shoot tips and flower buds; sticky honeydew; sooty mould; pods distorted. Pinch out the top 7–10 cm of plant once pods form — removes the colony and helps pods set. Spray remainder with insecticidal soap. Attract hoverflies with companion flowers.
How do I get rid of pea and bean weevil (sitona lineatus) on fava bean?
Distinctive U-shaped notches eaten from leaf margins, especially on young plants; adults active in spring. Damage is rarely fatal to established plants. Protect seedlings with fleece. Keep soil moist; stressed plants suffer more. No spray is usually warranted for garden scale.
How do I get rid of mice (mus musculus, apodemus sylvaticus) on fava bean?
Seeds dug up and eaten shortly after sowing; gaps appear in rows with small excavations visible. Sow in pots indoors and transplant. Use mouse traps along plot edges. Cover sown rows with wire mesh pinned to the soil until germination.