Bean pod mottle virus causes qualitative and quantitative damage to soybean and is efficiently transmitted by the bean leaf beetle, Cerotoma trifurcata. During the summers of 2002©¤2004 potential strategies for managing bean leaf beetles and bean pod mottle virus were evaluated at three locations in Iowa. The current management strategy in Iowa recommends one early and one mid-season pyrethroid application. Our study determined the efficacy of applying a systemic, seed-treated insecticide (thiamethoxam), either alone or in combination with foliar applications of a pyrethroid (lambda-cyhalothrin). Six (2002) and seven (2003 and 2004) management treatments were evaluated. In 2002, the following treatments were used: thiamethoxam seed treatment, lambda-cyhalothrin foliar application in late May, lambda-cyhalothrin foliar application in early July, thiamethoxam seed treatment with a lambda-cyhalothrin foliar application in early July, lambda-cyhalothrin foliar application in late May and early July, and an untreated control. In 2003 and 2004, one treatment was added °ª thiamethoxam with a lambda-cyhalothrin foliar application approximately 10 days postemergence of soybean. The effectiveness of these strategies was measured by comparisons of beetle abundance, enzyme-linked immunosorbant assayed soybean tissue, seed weight and quality. A thiamethoxam seed treatment with a lambda-cyhalothrin foliar application in early July may be able to improve yield and seed quality.