Major Insect Pests of Soybeans
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MoeMyintKyawDwayMajor Insect Pests of Soybeans
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Powered by AIStink bugs, including the green stink bug and the brown stink bug, damage soybean crops by puncturing plant tissues with their mouthparts and sucking plant fluids. They prefer to feed on young tender growth and developing seeds, with significant damage occurring during early seed formation, which can result in shriveled, deformed, undersized, and aborted seeds. The feeding period from May through September can lead to delayed leaf maturation and proliferation of abnormal growth .
Potato leafhoppers, Empoasca fabae, undergo a lifecycle where the nymphs hatch tiny and pale, gradually developing wing-like outgrowths through five molts. Both adults and nymphs inflict damage by inserting their mouthparts and extracting plant liquids, leading to symptoms such as vein distortion, leaf curling, and hopperburn. This extensive damage progresses from May through September, posing significant threats to soybean plant health throughout the development stages .
The green stink bug, Acrosternum hilare, is bright green with antennal segments featuring black bands. Damage includes puncturing soybean plant tissues and sucking plant fluids. The brown stink bug, Euschistus servus, is brown with a yellow or light green underside and rounded pronotum. Although both species cause similar feeding damage and prefer new growth and seeds, their visible appearances differ, aiding in their identification .
'Hopperburn' in soybeans is characterized by distorted leaf veins and leaf curling, progressing from green to yellow to brown as leaves deteriorate. This condition is caused by potato leafhoppers, which insert their piercing-sucking mouthparts to remove plant liquids. The symptoms are a direct consequence of the extensive feeding damage by both adult and nymphal stages from May through September .
Whiteflies directly affect soybean plants by removing sap primarily from the underside of leaves, which can lead to symptoms such as chlorotic spots, wilting, leaf discoloration, stunting, and dieback. Indirectly, the secretion of honeydew fosters the growth of black sooty mold, which can further harm the plant by reducing photosynthesis efficiency. These effects are especially noticeable during periods of high whitefly populations .
Environmental conditions, specifically prolonged hot and dry periods, significantly influence the population dynamics of twospotted spider mites, as these conditions are conducive to their outbreak. High temperatures and low humidity create favorable environments for rapid mite reproduction and increased activity, leading to heightened damage levels on soybean crops during the summer months .
The twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, injures soybean plants during prolonged hot and dry periods by piercing plant cells with their mouthparts and extracting plant juices. This results in yellow or white leaf spotting, leaf drop, accelerated senescence, and pod shattering. The presence of extensive webbing on the undersides of leaves is a key visible indicator of infestation .
Soybean aphids cause damage by removing plant sap, leading to yellow, distorted leaves and stunted growth. The plants are most vulnerable during the early reproductive stages where heavy infestations can result in reduced pod and seed counts. Soybean aphids may also facilitate the growth of sooty mold on honeydew, further impacting the plant's health .
The Dectes stem borer, identified as Dectes texanus texanus, is a gray beetle with a somewhat flattened body and black- and gray-banded antennae that are longer than its body, measuring about 3/8 inch long. Its larvae are creamy white, legless, with an accordion-like appearance and an orange-red head, measuring about 1/2 to 5/8 inch at maturity. Unlike adults, which do not damage soybeans, the larvae feed by tunneling within the main stem, consuming pith tissue from July to September. This feeding behavior leads to girdling of the interior stem near the soil line, predisposing the plant to lodging .
Soybean thrips damage soybean plants by rupturing the cell wall of leaf cells and withdrawing plant juices, which can cause leaves to appear silvery. This feeding damage occurs predominantly from May through September and is most common on seedlings or young vegetative plants, which are more vulnerable to the thrips' feeding .