Soybean Insects
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Best Management Practices for Soybean Production
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Watch for Bean Leaf Beetles
Some soybean in South Dakota has emerged and it is already being attacked by early-season bean leaf beetles. So far, observations of adult bean leaf beetles emerging from fields and defoliation of soybean have been in Southeastern South Dakota.
Soybean Gall Midge: It’s a New Species!
Researchers recently determined that the soybean gall midge, discovered in South Dakota in 2015, is actually a previously undocumented species. The origin of the new species, Resseliella maxima Gagné, is still unknown.
2019 South Dakota Overwintering Bean Leaf Beetle Predicted Mortality
Overwintering bean leaf beetle adults will soon start emerging as they do each spring. This overwintering generation is capable of causing serious defoliation injury to seedling soybean plants.
Soybean Gall Midge Larvae Found in South Dakota
Although we have yet to capture any adult soybean gall midges, the reports and observations of soybean gall midge larvae in soybean are pouring in this week. In Clay and Union counties, infested soybeans are now showing signs, with plants beginning to wilt and die in some cases.
Monitor Soybean for Defoliating Insects
While scouting soybean this week I noticed quite a few defoliating insects that were present in the field. So far, the feeding injury is minimal, but it is a reminder that we need to be diligent in monitoring leaves for defoliation and fields for these insect pests.
How to Scout For Soybean Gall Midge
Soybean gall midge have been reported in three counties in South Dakota in the past week: Clay, Union and Lincoln. Scouting for soybean gall midge can be as simple as finding wilting or dying plants along the edge of the field, or it can be rather difficult if the plants are currently asymptomatic.
Bean Leaf Beetles Are Back: Adults Observed Near Beresford
Earlier this year, we observed a large emergence of overwintering bean leaf beetles throughout much of the state. We are again observing quite a few bean leaf beetles beginning to emerge. These emerging beetles are the result of overwintering beetles mating and laying eggs.
Soybean Gall Midge Are Emerging Around Us, But No Captures in S.D.
Last year, the soybean gall midge caused a lot of issues in soybean, including lodging and up to 50% yield loss. In an effort to determine when soybean gall midge adults are emerging in 2019, a network of emergence traps has been established in South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota. So far, emergence of the adult soybean gall midge have been reported from Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota.
Green Cloverworms Causing Defoliation in Soybean
Populations of green cloverworm, a caterpillar pest of soybean, have been increasing over the last couple of weeks in South Dakota. Although green cloverworm caterpillars feed on soybean leaves, defoliation rarely results in economic loss. However, reports of increasing populations of green cloverworm and increasing amounts of defoliation suggests that scouting for this insect pest is warranted.
Soybean Gall Midge Showing Up in More Counties
As the season continues, so is our soybean gall midge scouting efforts. For much of South Dakota, the soybean that are infested with soybean gall midge are asymptomatic. That is, they show limited signs of infestation, but we can still find the larvae of the soybean gall midge in the stems.