Last summer the wasp parasite Pediobius was released in the student gardens at the
University of Wisconsin - Madison for control of Mexican bean beetle (see MBCN Vol. 2, No.
9). The beetle had been a devastating pest on bean plants in these gardens for years some people
even gave up growing beans entirely. Early this summer local gardeners reported they had yet to
find any leaf damage or any beetle larvae or adults. They didn't want to be too optimistic, but
were hoping that the wasp releases the year before completely eliminated this isolated population
of Mexican bean beetle. A team of researchers searched the gardens in early August and were
unable to find any beetles either.
- Susan Mahr, University of Wisconsin - Madison
