Pest identification
What's eating my tepary bean?
Silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia tabaci)
Signs: Yellowing leaves, sticky honeydew, and sooty mold; can transmit Bean golden mosaic virus
Control: Yellow sticky traps, neem oil or insecticidal soap applied to leaf undersides, reflective mulch to deter adults
Potato leafhopper (Empoasca fabae)
Signs: Hopperburn — yellow to brown leaf scorch starting at tips and margins
Control: Row covers on young plants, kaolin clay, pyrethrin spray targeting undersides of leaves
Mexican bean beetle (Epilachna varivestis)
Signs: Skeletonized leaves from underside feeding; yellow lacy appearance
Control: Hand-pick egg masses and larvae, apply spinosad or neem oil
Rabbits
Signs: Clipped seedling stems and browsed young foliage in desert gardens
Control: Wire mesh exclusion fencing around beds; harvest water bowls away from garden to reduce wildlife draw
Keep tepary bean pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Tepary Bean pests — FAQ
What is eating my tepary bean?
Tepary beans are drought-adapted and somewhat more pest-resistant than common beans, but still attract whiteflies, leafhoppers, bean beetles, and aphids in warm climates. In the US Southwest — their native range — silverleaf whitefly is the key pest. Bean beetles and leafhoppers cause hopperburn. Rabbits and javelinas browse desert garden plantings.
How do I get rid of silverleaf whitefly (bemisia tabaci) on tepary bean?
Yellowing leaves, sticky honeydew, and sooty mold; can transmit Bean golden mosaic virus Yellow sticky traps, neem oil or insecticidal soap applied to leaf undersides, reflective mulch to deter adults
How do I get rid of potato leafhopper (empoasca fabae) on tepary bean?
Hopperburn — yellow to brown leaf scorch starting at tips and margins Row covers on young plants, kaolin clay, pyrethrin spray targeting undersides of leaves
How do I get rid of mexican bean beetle (epilachna varivestis) on tepary bean?
Skeletonized leaves from underside feeding; yellow lacy appearance Hand-pick egg masses and larvae, apply spinosad or neem oil
How do I get rid of rabbits on tepary bean?
Clipped seedling stems and browsed young foliage in desert gardens Wire mesh exclusion fencing around beds; harvest water bowls away from garden to reduce wildlife draw