I've found little holes in my green beans previously, and finally found the culprit--Gray Hairstreak caterpillars! Apparently, they have a wide taste in legumes. This one was being tended by a few ants. I've got two of the hairstreaks (sans ants) in containers and will try to rear them. The previous couple I've had, from Redbud, pupated, but have not eclosed in over a year:


Size of caterpillar estimated. Allen's reference on caterpillars (1) says the markings on this species are quite variable. Identification confirmed--I got two pupa and later (7/13/06) one imago Gray Hairstreak from this group of caterpillars. (Photos later of pupa--the butterfly escaped.)