More bean growers are being sought to take part in a bruchid beetle monitoring network, to help provide accurate updates on the annual spread of the crop’s most threatening pest.

While traps aren’t available commercially, the Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO) supplies them to growers willing to be part of the reporting network.

Timing an insecticide application to control adult beetles before they have an opportunity to lay eggs is absolutely vital, as there is no opportunity to hit the larvae before they damage the pod contents, explains Becky Howard, PGRO principal technical officer.

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The beetle is particularly well known to growers in the south and east of the country, being endemic as far north as Lincolnshire, and becoming more of a marginal threat in Yorkshire and the Scottish Borders.

Data from the field is collected and distributed as part of a pest bulletin available to all PGRO members.

This information complements Syngenta’s BruchidCast service, which forecasts impending weather likely to cause a period of peak pest activity and advises on appropriate spraying timings.

Growers wishing to be a part of the scheme, or sign up to the pest bulletins can obtain more information from Mrs Howard who can be contacted by email on becky@pgro.org or by calling 01780 781 351.