Winter Egg Mortality Reduces Soybean Aphid Threat

This year's hard winter may work against soybean aphid pressure, according to Wayne Bailey, a Missouri Extension entomologist. Writing in this week's Integrated Pest and Crop Management Newsletter. Here is Brown's report:

Surveys conducted this past fall by researchers at the University of Illinois and Purdue University found very high numbers of soybean aphid eggs on Buckthorn in several states. They predicted the possibility of high spring and summer populations of aphids if these eggs successfully survived the winter.

In a survey 2 weeks ago, they found egg mortality was very high due to winter weather conditions. Although some areas of the Midwest may still experience damaging soybean aphid populations, the threat of problems from this pest are reduced for the 2007 season.

Problems in Missouri could still occur during June and July if high numbers of aphids migrate into the state from more northern states with soybean aphid infestations. We have two aphid suction traps operating in Missouri (Columbia, Portageville) to assist in the detection of migrating aphids.