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This leaflet is produced by the Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock, Solomon Islands, with support 
from IPPSI: 

Improved Plant Protection in Solomon Islands, a project financed by ACIAR, the 

Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra. Authors: Helen Tsatsia, MAL & 
Grahame Jackson, TerraCircle Inc.

 

Farmer Fact Sheet 18: 

Bean Pod Sucking Bug 

 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

What is it? 

 

It is an insect that feeds on beans, such as long beans, soybeans and mung bean. It has 
a long, needle-like, mouth. It uses this to suck juices from stems, pods and seeds. The 
scientific name is 

Riptortus. 

 

What damage does it do? 

 

The adults and young - they look like ants (photo, top right) – have long thin 
mouthparts. As they feed, the pods turn brown, dry up and die. Damage can be severe. 
 

How do I identify it? 

 

Look for the adults with their long thin mouthparts and 
long legs (photos, left & lower right, above); look 
under the leaves for the ant-like young. Look closely 
for small holes and damaged, shrivelled pods.  
 

How do I manage the bug? 

 
Cultural control: 

•  Plant long beans near Bixa (photo, right) as a ‘trap’ crop; a method discovered by 

a farmer on Malaita

. Bixa is known as the Lipstick Tree; it has red seeds, used by 

children to paint their faces. When the fruits open, they attract large numbers of 
Riptortus. The insects are attracted to the Bixa seeds, leaving the long beans alone. 

Chemical control: 

•  Insecticides have not been tested against Riptortus in Solomon Islands. However, 

is likely that synthetic pyrethroids, such as lambda cyhalothrin or permethrin, 
would be effective. See your MAL extension officer for details.