Green Stink Bug

Stink Bugs.  Thus far stink bug populations in soybean appear to be relatively low.  In particular I have not seen or heard many reports of green stink bugs, which is usually our primary species.  At this time of year, they often concentrate in the earliest soybean fields (those setting pods). 

Our treatment threshold for stink bugs in soybean changed a couple of years ago.  UT now suggests a threshold of 36 stink bugs per 100 sweeps from R1 to R7 .  The data indicated there was no reason to be more aggressive than this during early pod fill (unlike the previous threshold).

Other than threecornered alfalfa hopper (TCAH), there appears to be no other widespread insect problems in soybeans.  I am still concerned about the numbers of TCAH that were observed in seedling soybeans during the last several weeks.  Undoubtedly, there was a lot of mainstem girdling on small seedlings.  Keep in mind that once plants are 8-10 inches tall this damage can’t be reversed but won’t get worse.  We will see some lodging of girdled plants as the season progresses.  This tends to be more problematic where stands were thin to begin with.

Insecticide/Fungicide Spray Tank Mixes?  I’ve been discouraging the practice of automatically including an insecticide with the fungicide application for nearly a decade.  If my rants have not convinced you, maybe the article linked below will make you reconsider pulling the trigger when there is nothing to shoot at.

Soybeans: Should I Add an Insecticide With the Fungicide?
By Angus Catchot, Extension Entomologist, on June 16th, 2012