Bean pod mottle virus causes qualitative and quantitative damage to soybeans and is transmitted most efficiently by the bean leaf beetle, Ceratoma trifurcata Forster. During the summers of 2002─2004, potential strategies for managing bean leaf beetles and bean pod mottle virus were evaluated at Iowa State University research farms. The current management strategy in Iowa recommends one early and one mid-season lambda-cyhalothrin application. Our study determined the efficacy of applying a systemic, seed-treated insecticide (thiamethoxam), either alone or in combination with foliar applications of lambda-cyhalothrin. Six (2002) and seven (2003 and 2004) different management strategies 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 — thiamethoxam with a lambda-cyhalothrin foliar 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.