- Worldwide. Sub-tropics and tropics. On beans of many kinds - Vigna, Phaseolus, and weeds.
- Eggs in seedling leaves hatch, and larvae tunnel to the midrib, then to the petiole and lower stem.
- Plants wilt, are stunted, or may fail to yield.
- Natural enemies: parasitoid wasps.
- Cultural control: remove volunteers and weeds; avoid overlapping crops; hill-up 2-3 weeks after germination (damage stimulates roots) ; mulch to encourage root formation; tolerant varieties.
- Chemical control: commercial growers – treat seed (e.g., imidacloprid); or spray plants (dimethoate).
Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds - Online edition
Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides
Bean (cowpea) fly (291)
Bean fly
Ophiomyia phaseoli; previously Melanagromyza phaseoli.
AUTHOR Grahame Jackson
Information from CABI (2015) Ophiomyia phaseoli (bean fly). Crop Protection Compendium (https://www.cabi.org/cpc/datasheet/33002); and from DAF (2018) Bean fly. Business Queensland. Queensland Government. (https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/crop-growing/pests-field-crops/bean-fly). Photos 1&2 Shepard M et al. Insects and their natural enemies associated with vegetables and soybean in Southeast Asia, Bugwood.org. Photo 3 Shane McEvey, Australian Museum (Phyiomyia sp., Townsville, Queensland).
Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.