I have never had a problem before with things eating my bean plants, aside
from an occasional hole here, a nibble there. But today I went out and
found nothing but veins left on three of my smaller bean plants and my
watermelon plant.

I rarely use any pesticide, but I'm beginning to think I might need to.
Anyone know what sort of bug might have attacked and what a good treatment
would be?

I did notice a lot of ants running around on the ground near there... do
ants eat leaves? I couldn't find any sign of aphids and didn't see any
caterpillars.

--Steve

I have never had a problem before with things eating my bean plants, aside
from an occasional hole here, a nibble there. But today I went out and
found nothing but veins left on three of my smaller bean plants and my
watermelon plant.

i have had the same problem for a couple of years.... one day the plants are
healthy and growing well, the next day, nothing but lace work for leaves....
my wife went to the local homecenter and asked..... while i can't remember the
name of the bug that causes this type of problem, they did recommend a soap
insecticide:
SAFER (brand name)
Insecticidal Soap...
i bought it at Home Depot... once when the plant leaves were just poking thru
the ground and then after they are about 6 inches tall...... and then every
3rd or 4 weeks..... so far, it has worked well.... leaves are dark green and
climbing up the trellis....
hope this helps.....

From: Steve
Message-ID:

I have never had a problem before with things eating my bean plants, aside
from an occasional hole here, a nibble there. But today I went out and
found nothing but veins left on three of my smaller bean plants and

Sounds like the Mexican Bean Beetle--they will destroy your crop in short
order--a neem spray may be in order or a pyrethrum/roetenone spray. If it is
the bean beet;lle then you have no choice but to spray or likely lose your crop
The sprays mentoned are used by organic growers there are other chemical
sprays-consult your extension service

Sounds like Rabbits to me - or possibly deer. Us a heavy dose of Hinder or
Liquid fence on veggies to keep both at bay. Randy

Steve wrote:

I have never had a problem before with things eating my bean plants, aside
from an occasional hole here, a nibble there. But today I went out and
found nothing but veins left on three of my smaller bean plants and my
watermelon plant.

I rarely use any pesticide, but I'm beginning to think I might need to.
Anyone know what sort of bug might have attacked and what a good treatment
would be?

I did notice a lot of ants running around on the ground near there... do
ants eat leaves? I couldn't find any sign of aphids and didn't see any
caterpillars.

--Steve

--

(WARRENRN1) wrote in
:

I have never had a problem before with things eating my bean plants,
aside from an occasional hole here, a nibble there. But today I went
out and found nothing but veins left on three of my smaller bean
plants and my watermelon plant.

i have had the same problem for a couple of years.... one day the
plants are healthy and growing well, the next day, nothing but lace
work for leaves.... my wife went to the local homecenter and
asked..... while i can't remember the name of the bug that causes
this type of problem, they did recommend a soap insecticide:
SAFER (brand name)
Insecticidal Soap...
i bought it at Home Depot... once when the plant leaves were just
poking thru the ground and then after they are about 6 inches
tall...... and then every 3rd or 4 weeks..... so far, it has worked
well.... leaves are dark green and climbing up the trellis....
hope this helps.....


Guess what, found out what was eating them-- Earwigs!

There was no sign of any pests during the day, so I went out after dark
with a flashlight, and there were scads of earwigs ALL OVER my smaller
plants, just feasting away. So I ran in and grabbed the soap spray I had
already bought and doused 'em. So far, it seems to have worked. They did
not like the stuff and seemed to scatter. Used some household poison on
them as they were running away. Fingers crossed.

Thanks for your input, Warren.

--Steve