APHIS Factsheet

Plant Protection and Quarantine October 2010

Invasive Insect 

(Bean Plataspid) 

Poses Risk to 

Soybean Crops and 

Infests Homes in 

Southeastern States

The bean plataspid (Megacopta cribraria) is an 

invasive insect from Asia that attacks soybean and 

other legumes. It also feeds on kudzu, an invasive 

plant species that has spread throughout the southern 

United States. The pest, which is sometimes called 

the kudzu bug or lablab bug, was fi rst detected in the 

United States in November 2009 on kudzu in Barrow 

County, GA. At that time, a number of homeowners 

complained about a large number of bugs that had 

swarmed onto the sides of their homes and other 

structures, leaving a mildly offensive or bitter odor in 

their wake. As of August 2010, the bean plataspid has 

been identifi ed throughout Georgia, in numerous South 

Carolina counties, and in one North Carolina county.

Background 

The bean plataspid is native to India and China and 

is also found in Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, 

Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. 

The insect is pea-sized, greenish brown, and round 

with a wide posterior. It appears to waddle when it 

walks on a surface and is an excellent fl ier. Pictures of 

the pest are available online at www.aphis.usda.gov/

bean-plataspid.

Its life cycle typically lasts 7 weeks. However, the 

chemistry of the host plant can signifi cantly affect the 

insect’s reproductive characteristics—such as fertility 

and length of generation—as well as its feeding rate 

and resulting impact on the host plant.

Adults and immature insects (nymphs) gather in 

large groups and suck sap from a host plant, weakening and stunting it. Adults have been observed sucking sap from the host plant’s leaves, stems, budding 

fl owers, and mature green pods. Severe infestations 

of adults and nymphs feeding on leaf sap can cause 

extensive defoliation in host plants. As host plants die 

off in cooler fall weather, the bean plataspids search 

for places to spend the winter, settling into attics and 

cracks in wood siding on houses.

Threat to Agricultural Resources

Reports from China indicate that the bean plataspid 

can signifi cantly impact soybean production. In China, 

the pest has caused springtime crop losses of up to 50 

percent and summertime losses of up to 30 percent. 

Severe infestations on some host plants result in seed 

yield losses, improperly developed pods, and undersized seeds.

The bean plataspid is also listed as a harmful pest 

of Chinese fruit trees. If it moves to other host plants in 

the United States, the pest has the potential to cause 

signifi cant agricultural damage.

Response Efforts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal 

and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is working actively with the State departments of agriculture 

of Georgia and North Carolina and the Department of 

Plant Industry in South Carolina to conduct surveys for 

the bean plataspid to determine the extent of the infestation. APHIS has also alerted extension agents in the 

surrounding States about the presence of the insect 

and the possibility of its spread into their States.

APHIS and the University of Georgia are currently developing methods of insecticide use against 

this newly introduced species. In addition, APHIS and 

university scientists are analyzing the bean plataspid’s 

genetic background to determine its specifi c origin in 

Asia to help identify the pest’s natural enemies.

How You Can Help

Please assist survey specialists who may need access 

to your property as they look for this pest. APHIS and 

its State partners must determine the boundaries of 

the infestation before they can determine the most 

effective approach to controlling the pest.

If you suspect the presence of the bean plataspid 

in your area, please notify your local county extension office or APHIS State office. You can fi nd contact 

information for county extension offices at www.nifa.

usda.gov/Extension. For APHIS State office contact 

information, visit www.aphis.usda.gov and click the 

“Report a pest or disease” link on the right-hand side 

of the screen. You can fi nd pictures online at 

www.aphis.usda.gov/bean-plataspid that can help you 

to identify the insect. 

Invasive species such as the bean plataspid can 

arrive in the United States in a number of ways, but the 

most common method is hitchhiking with international 

travelers who bring fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, 

soil, or other agricultural items into the United States 

from foreign countries. Please declare all food, plants, 
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination 

in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national 

origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, 

familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic 

information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an 

individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. 

(Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with 

disabilities who require alternative means for communication of 

program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should 

contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and 

TDD). To fi le a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, 

Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., 

Washington, D.C. 20250–9410, or call (800) 795–3272 (voice) or 

(202) 720–6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and 

employer. 

live animals, and plant or animal products to a U.S. 

Department of Homeland Security Custom and Border 

Protection officer or agriculture specialist at the fi rst 

port of entry when you return from abroad. In addition, 

research the admissibility of plant and animal products 

before your trip. You can call APHIS at (301) 734-0841 

for questions regarding plants and (301) 734-3277 for 

those regarding animals.

United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Safeguarding American Agriculture