Broad Beans have got African Bruchid Beetle

[Two_Sheds]

I soaked my boreds overnight, as I do, and found what looked like black fluff floating on the top.

On closer inspection, they turned out to be bugs, four of them.

I've just googled, and they are Bruchid beetles, introduced from Africa. Cheers!

Apparently they are becoming a major pest of broad beans in the UK. These were in a pack of bought seed, so I wasn't happy, but at least they're drowned now

I'll be soaking all my broad bean seed from now on.

[Snadger]

Have you contacted the seed merchant?

[Snadger]

Just had a thought................surely because its an African bug, overwintered beans should be safe?

[Two_Sheds]

Have you contacted the seed merchant?

Not yet but I will.

Just had a thought................surely because its an African bug, overwintered beans should be safe?

Do you mean, will the beetles survive the UK winter outdoors? I don't know. My beetles were tucked inside the dried beans, and floated out when I soaked them.

[Jeanied]

A quick google search because I had these in the broad beans I harvested last year -there are over 1000 different kinds of bruchid beetle and the species originated in Africa. I picked over my broad bean seeds before I saved them last year. It seems that the only controls are pyrethrum based and I won't be using that, until the link with harm to bees has been tested thoroughly.

http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to...-bean-weevils/

[ginger ninger]

Morning T.S, are you able to tell us who the seed company is and what variety they are, I've just sent for some more "Crimson flowered broad beans" from T&M, but can appreciate if you'd rather not.

[northepaul]

Thanks for the tip, TS. I'll inspect the ones I intend to sow asap.

[Two_Sheds]

One of them was alive !!!!

(but not for long)

Horrors, shudder.

[ginger ninger]

O.M.G, yuk, yuk, yuk...that's not good at all T.S, I hope they give you a re-fund at least, let us know how you get on with them (the seeds not the bugs).

[ginger ninger]

I've just received my "Crimson Flowered Broad Beans" From a very reputable seeds company, and I have some with the tell-tail signs of beetle activity in them (not impressed), so I'm going to soak them over night like T.S did to see if there's any more appears, I'll be emailing the company.

[binley100]

I'm come over feeling all creepy and am now off to inspect my beans. UURRGH

[poly]

Bean seed inspection for sure, fingers crossed for the early sown.

[ginger ninger]

I was going to email them but I decided to ring them instead, a very helpful Lady answered the phone, after explaining what was wrong with my beans, she said she would make enquiries about what to do, around 2 Min's later she came back on the line and requested I packed the said beans up, post them back to them and they would send me a new pkt of seeds, and a re-fund for my trouble.

[binley100]

You'd better get the hairdryer out T_S so you can send them back.

[Jeanied]

I've just checked my 10 beans free from the HSL - not a sign of any beetles, phew!