Soybean Insects

Soybean Insects II
UNL Department of Entomology

EXTENSION
EC1575
Robert Wright, Terry DeVries and Jim Kalisch
Adult
3. Whiteflies
Nymph
Adult
Larva
1. Dectes Stem Borer
5. Potato Leafhopper
4. Soybean Aphid
2. Soybean Thrips
6. Twospotted Spider Mite
7a. Green Stink Bug 7b. Brown Stink Bug
© 2008, The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska. All rights reserved.
Insects Identification
1. Dectes stem borer Adults: Gray beetle with somewhat flattened body, black- and gray-banded antennae that are longer than
Dectes texanus texanus the body, about 3/8 inch long. Present in June through September. Adults do not injure soybean.
LeConte Larvae: Creamy, white body with an “accordion-like” appearance, orange-red head, legless, about 1/ 2-5/ 8
inch long at maturity. Feeding damage occurs July through September. Larvae tunnel within the main
stem, consuming pith tissue. As the larvae mature, they move to the base of the stem and girdle the
interior portion of the stem approximately 2 to 4 inches above the soil line. This feeding predisposes the
plant to lodging.
Adults: Slender, with alternating dark and light transverse bands, about 1/ 16 inch long. Feeding damage
2. Soybean thrips occurs May through September. They cause injury by rupturing the cell wall of leaf cells and withdraw-
Sericothrips variabilis ing plant juices. Leaves may appear silvery as a result. Injury most common on seedlings or young
vegetative plants.
3. Whiteflies: Family Aley- Adults: Newly emerged adults are yellowish-white, later turning white as wax is deposited on the body
rodidae and wings, and about 1/ 25 inch long. Hold forewings close to and parallel to the body. Injure soybeans
by removing sap, primarily feeding on the underside of soybean leaves. High populations may cause
chlorotic spots, leaf discoloration, wilting, stunting, and dieback. Also produce honeydew which results
in the secondary growth of fungi known as black sooty mold.
4. Soybean aphid Adults: Winged or wingless, light green to pale yellow in color with two black-tipped cornicles (“tail-
Aphis glycines Matsumura pipes”) on the tip of the abdomen; less than 1/ 16 inch long. Feeding damage may occur July through Sep-
tember. Injure soybeans by removing plant sap. Injury symptoms may include yellow, distorted leaves
and stunted plants. Soybean plants are most vulnerable to aphid injury during the early reproductive
stages. Heavy aphid infestations during these stages can cause reduced pod and seed counts. A charcoal-
colored fungus, sooty mold, may grow on aphid honeydew on heavily infested plants. May transmit
several viral diseases, including soybean mosaic.
5. Potato leafhopper Adults: Wedge-shaped and pale green with tiny white spots on and just behind the head; about 1/ 8 inch long.
Empoasca fabae (Harris) Nymphs: Wingless, otherwise similar to adults. Newly hatched nymphs are tiny and pale; develop wing-
like outgrowths as they pass through five molts.
Feeding damage may occur May through September. Both adult and nymphal stages injure soybean by
inserting their piercing-sucking mouthparts and removing plant liquids. Symptoms include distorted
leaf veins and leaf curling. Severely injured leaves may change from green to yellow to brown as they
deteriorate, causing a symptom known as “hopperburn.”
6. Twospotted spider mite Adults: Oval, light green to straw-colored with two dark spots on the back; about 0.015 inch long. Mite
Tetranychus urticae (Koch) populations may reach damaging levels during prolonged hot, dry periods in the summer. Injure
soybeans by piercing plant cells with their mouthparts and sucking the plant juices. Injury symptoms in-
clude yellow or white leaf spotting, leaf drop, accelerated senescence and pod shattering. Produce large
amounts of webbing on the undersides of leaves.
7. Stink Bugs Adults: Bright green, antennal segments with black bands and a pointed spine on the second ventral
a. Green Stink Bug abdominal segment protruding between the bases of the hind legs, about 1/ 2 -5/ 8 inch long.
Acrosternum hilare (Say) Adults: Brown, with yellow or light green underside and rounded pronotum (shoulders); about 1/ 2 inch long.
b. Brown Stink Bug Stink bug feeding damage occurs May through September. Cause injury by puncturing the tissues of
Euschistus servus (Say) soybean plants with their mouthparts and sucking up the plant fluids. Prefer to feed on young tender
growth and developing seeds. Dark spots appear on the plant where the mouthparts puncture the soy-
bean tissues. Symptoms include delayed leaf maturation, foliage retention and proliferation of abnormal
leaflets and pods close to the main stem. Injury during early seed formation may result in shriveled,
deformed, undersized and even aborted seeds.
Photo Credits: Figures 7a and 7b are courtesy of Marlin Rice, Iowa State University. All other photos are
courtesy of UNL Entomology Department.
Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture.
University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies
of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.

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Soybean Insects II

UNL Department of Entomology

6. Twospotted Spider Mite

7a. Green Stink Bug 7b. Brown Stink Bug

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