The Mexican Bean Beetle in South Carolina

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Abstract
The activities of the Mexican bean beetle (Epitachnu corrupta Muls.) in South Carolina during the year 1925 are reported. Extreme drouth prevailed so activities were more limited than in previous years. Cage and field emergence studies showed that emergence of adults assuming normal feeding and breeding activities occurred during May and June. Fourteen and two-tenths per cent of the adults emerged from the hibernation cage. One generation developed and all the adults died before the period for hibernation arrived. A second generation developed, many of the adult females laid eggs during a short period, and then the majority of the adults went into hibernation. A small number of third generation beetles developed and went into hibernation. A very few females of the third generation produced eggs. A few individuals of the fourth generation appeared but produced no eggs. Host plants, during the spring and summer, were chiefly string or snap beans and to a lesser extent lima beans. September and October they were found developing on cowpeas just before going into hibernation. Many larvae in the first and second instar died in August from what appeared to be a bacterial disease. The ladybird beetle, usually called Megilla maculata destroyed portions of many egg groups.

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