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Bug on runner beans

PineappleThiefPineappleThief Posts: 3
in Fruit & veg
I have seen a few of these on my runner beans this year. Are they Shield Bugs? No obvious damage so far. Does anyone have experience of them? Thanks.
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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited August 2020
    Yes they’re shield bugs ... such handsome chaps .., we love them ... we often find them on our runner beans ... the ones in the UK do little or no damage although in the US they seem to regard them as an awful pest 😕 

    Whoops!  Where’s my manners!? Welcome to the forum @PineappleThief ... pleased to meet you 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • PineappleThiefPineappleThief Posts: 3
    Hi, thanks for the reply, and the welcome! I did read something about them being a pest in America. Do you just leave the alone then? So far, my beans have been great. Fortunately, my wife loves them so she hasn’t got fed up of my daily collection. Other things have been more mixed so I may be asking for advice on those in the future. I’ll apologise in advance for the dumb questions!  Cheers.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited August 2020
    I call my OH and he rushes out to admire the Shield bug and we’ll try to work out which type and at which stage it is http://www.britishbugs.org.uk/heteroptera/idcards/life_stages.html
    then we leave it to get on with its life 😊 

    Glad your beans are good ... ours have been good too thus year, nearly had to get another freezer 😯. Do you know which variety yours are?

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • PineappleThiefPineappleThief Posts: 3
    Sorry for the slow reply. I couldn’t find the packet and then I forgot! If I find it I’ll let you know. I think they are coming to end now though there are still flowers so if we have a decent September, you never know.
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    They do suck sap from the plant but it's unlikely to do much harm, I believe in the US there are some diseases that they transmit. The only time I find them annoying is strawberry season when they love to lay their eggs on my strawberries. they don't seem to do any harm to the fruit but it's annoying to pick off the little clusters!
  • barbiejgbarbiejg Posts: 5
    These bugs have decimated my bean crops for the last 3 years 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Whereabouts are you @barbiejg ?

    It would be unusual for Shield bugs to do any noticeable damage to beans in the UK.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • barbiejgbarbiejg Posts: 5
    I’m  in south east London 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    What's happening to your beans?  Can we see photos of the damage and the culprits please?

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • msqingxiaomsqingxiao Posts: 482
    I knocked one off my runner beans the other day when picking the beans. Didn't notice any damage to the beans or the leaves.
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