The bean flower thrips, Megalurothrips usitatus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is an important pest of leguminous crops (Fabales: Fabaceae) in south China. In this study, life history parameters of M. usitatus were investigated on 4 leguminous crops: snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.), pea (Pisum sativum L.), and lima bean (Phaseolus limensis Macf.). The development times (mean ± SE) from egg to adult on snap bean, cowpea, pea, and lima bean pods were 9.53 ± 0.06, 10.62 ± 0.14, 11.20 ± 0.11 and 11.55 ± 1.13 days, respectively. Survivorship of immatures was high on snap bean (80%) but low on lima bean (48%). The total number of first instars produced was highest on snap bean (sexual reproduction: 112.15 ± 11.98; parthenogenesis: 195.89 ± 19.24), and lowest on lima bean (sexual reproduction: 42.17 ± 2.99; parthenogenesis: 49.50 ± 3.90). Megalurothrips usitatus had the highest intrinsic rate of increase (r_m) on snap bean (0.205), followed by cowpea (0.181), pea (0.171), and lima bean (0.125). The results indicate that snap bean was the most suitable host plant for M. usitatus, whereas lima bean was the least suitable.