Insect & Pests

Cancellation of Several Neonicotinoids

On May 20, 2019, the United States Environmental Protection Agency announced the cancellation of registrations for 12 products that contain neonicotinoid insecticides. The cancellation of the product registrations was voluntarily requested by the companies that had registered the products.

Scouting Winter Wheat for Aphid Pests

Although we cannot predict aphid pressure in winter wheat, there are measures that may be taken to reduce the risk associated with these insects.

Scouting Winter Wheat for Mite Pests

Winter wheat planting is underway in South Dakota. After wheat emergence, it is important to scout for brown wheat mite and wheat curl mite populations.

Japanese Beetles

Japanese Beetles (Popillia japonica) are pest beetles feed on trees, ornamental plants and food crops.

Yellow Soybeans

Yellow soybean areas within fields are being noticed in some areas of the state. There are six factors which could be causing the soybean plant yellowing: nitrogen (N), potassium (K), or sulfur (S) deficiency, iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC), soybean cyst nematode (SCN), or yellow flash from Roundup application.

Why the 250 Threshold is Still Appropriate for Soybean Aphids

When gearing up for soybean aphid scouting, it is important to think about the population densities that warrant insecticide management.

Scout and Soil Test for the Soybean Cyst Nematode 

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is the main soybean production constraint in South Dakota. Soybean plants can be infested with SCN but may not display visible symptoms.

Soybean Pests: Bean Leaf Beetles and Bean Pod Mottle Virus

With the number of bean leaf beetle observations in soybean fields during 2016, the need for monitoring soybean for Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) development increases. Bean pod mottle virus was first identified in South Dakota in 1998, and is recognized as a very economically important disease in soybean due to the potential for it to cause devastating losses to soybean yields.

Gall Midge Larvae in Soybean Stems

Gall midge larvae were observed recently in soybean stems from a field in South Dakota. These insects were found under the epidermis of the stem that was slightly above the soil line.

Small red maggots under your soybean plants’ epidermis? We have answers.

In 2015, we received plant samples of soybean that had small red maggots under the epidermis. Now, in 2017, we are starting to receive reports of these same insects being found under the epidermis of soybean in different parts of South Dakota.