I can't figure out what is eating the leaves on my green beans & don't see anything on it either! Plus see cucumber!

Ann S
by Ann S
We have been keeping it pesitized free too!
What's eating my leaves on this!
This is our 6th one so far on only 4 plants.
  18 answers
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Jul 20, 2012
    You have just missed seeing the little buggers who are eating your beans...Back when I had my garden I had the same thing happen...for me it was harder to fix as there were in a plastic covered greenhouse so the natural bird predators could not gain access. I you do some more poking around you should find the larvae hiding on the underside of the leaves.
  • Ann S Ann S on Jul 21, 2012
    OK thanks KMS Woodworks, I'll take a look today! A friend of mine last night said she thought it was janpeness beetles, but haven't seen any yet this yr!
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Jul 21, 2012
    Ann, since many garden pests are nocturnal, put out a sticky trap at night and see what you catch. You can then take appropriate measures.
  • Ann S Ann S on Jul 21, 2012
    Thank you for the suggestions but this doesn't answer my question. but will get tomorrow at store & you means sticky strip like for flies right Douglas?
  • Ann S Ann S on Jul 21, 2012
    KMS Woodworks, Oh and did look under a lot of leaves & didn't see anything.
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Jul 22, 2012
    Ann, yes, the yellow ones.
  • Ann S Ann S on Jul 22, 2012
    Thanks Douglas!
  • Jo M Jo M on Jul 22, 2012
    also check for earwigs that are nocturnal.
  • Jean Jean on Jul 22, 2012
    possibly Japanese beetles? They can make leaves turn into lace! I have them on my grape leaves. You don't always see them...you have to kind of look around, & you may see one or two.
  • Meem Kaplan Meem Kaplan on Jul 12, 2014
    round holes like that can definitely be caused by cutworms.
  • Linda T Linda T on Jul 12, 2014
    Japanese beetles like grapes, roses and rose of sharon. (I have them on my fox grapes (a weed that I need to deal with) but as long as they are eating them, maybe my roses will last longer) By the look of the holes on your bean leaves, I'd say you have have Mexican bean beetles, especially if you have any farms around that grow soy beans. I do and the beetles like 'good' beans better than soy! Years ago, with a baby a dog and many cats, I didn't want to use chemicals, so I went out 3-4 times a day with a large lidded jar, and just knocked the nasties into it and left it in the sun to sweat them to death (Sorry Hindus!) They are about the same size and shape as a lady bug, with spots too, but they are yellow, not red.
  • Shanna C Shanna C on Jul 12, 2014
    May be a Bean Leaf Beetle
  • Shanna C Shanna C on Jul 12, 2014
    Might be a Bean Leaf Beetle.
  • White Oak Studio Designs White Oak Studio Designs on Jul 15, 2014
    Look like Japanese beetles to me. Pick them off each morning and put them in a jar of water.
  • Rhonda Clements Rhonda Clements on Jul 15, 2014
    looks like ear wig damage, put out some tuna water in a can buried a rim level they will go in and cannot get out, they love tuna juice
  • Patty A Patty A on Jun 23, 2016
    So....what are they? Too early for Japanese beetles. Did you take Douglas' advice and trap any nocturnal creatures?
  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Feb 21, 2023

    Small black beetles, pidgeons or maybe slugs. Keep them covered for a while and see if it still happens. If it does it has to be something in the ground!


  • Kristi Kristi on Feb 21, 2023

    I had this happen, it wasn’t a pest, my soil was lacking iron. Sprinkled iron on the ground and it took care of the problem.