Kudzu-eating pest found in northeast Georgia

Kudzu-eating pest found in northeast Georgia
Insect is a potential threat to soybean and other legume crops. Researchers from the University of Georgia and Dow AgroSciences have identified a kudzu-eating pest in northeast Georgia that has never been found in the Western Hemisphere. Unfortunately, the bug also eats legume crops, especially soybeans.

Bean plataspids (Megacopta cribraria), an insect native to India and China, has been founded in northeast Georgia counties. The bug is pea-sized and brownish in color with a wide posterior. It eats kudzu but also feeds on legume crops like soybeans.


Photo: Dan Suiter
High resolution photo of a bean plataspid (Megacopta cribraria), an insect native to India and China.