Bean leaf beetle populations have been on the increase for the past couple of weeks. Reports from western and central Iowa suggest that populations are large again this year, particularly in early-planted soybean fields. The beetles that are being seen now are part of the F1 generation; these beetles developed from eggs that were laid in the soybeans shortly after plants emerged. The next generation, or F2, is often the most damaging of the two generations, but either generation can cause damage if green pods are present in the field at the same time as the beetles are feeding. Large populations have reduced yields by 20-50 percent in past years so the importance of this insect should not be ignored.