If producers do need to treat for soybean aphids this year, two Iowa State University (ISU) entomologists have recommendations on when and how insecticides should be used to manage this pest.

"Do not use insecticides when small populations of soybean aphids are first found in the field," said Matt O'Neal, Iowa State University (ISU) assistant professor, soybean entomology. "Natural enemies can help suppress small aphid populations. Determine if the aphid population is increasing or decreasing."

Conditions that favor an increase in aphids are:
- cool temperatures
- plants under drought and nutrient stress
- absence of beneficial insects

He also advises looking to see if there are winged aphids or "broad-shouldered" nymphs developing wings and nearing the adult stage. If most of the aphids are winged or nearing this stage, they will leave the plant, or maybe the field, and an insecticide may not be needed because the population will rapidly decline.

Check for parasitized aphids (called mummies). Do not spray the field if a majority of the aphids have turned to mummies.

"Insecticide applications made during the early soybean reproductive stages (R1-R4) have shown larger and more consistent yield protection than applications made later in the growing season, " said Marlin Rice, ISU Extension entomologist.

On-farm strip-trial data from several Midwestern states in 2003 showed that fields sprayed in early August had larger yield gains than fields sprayed in mid-August.

For each day delay in spraying during 2003 after Aug. 1, an average of 0.5-0.6 bushel was lost daily. Fields sprayed in late August and early September often showed no yield response to the insecticide application because most of the aphid damage had occurred by this time.

Complete coverage of a soybean plant is essential for optimum aphid control, especially because soybean aphid feed on the underside of leaves and often in the upper third of the plant canopy. If coverage is poor or an insecticide does not give effective control, then the remaining aphids will reproduce and the population could rapidly reach the economic threshold again.

A preferred insecticide would be one that provided the greatest percent of killed aphids with the most extended control and the least environmental impact, especially the mortality of beneficial insects, at the least cost to the producer. There are no perfect insecticides, but there are performance traits that may help determine product selection.

Warrior, a pyrethroid insecticide, has provided the most consistent control among the pyrethroids in many university insecticide trials. Pyrethroid insecticide performance is enhanced during cool temperatures. Lorsban, an organophosphate insecticide, exhibits a vapor action, especially during high temperatures.

If an insecticide is sprayed, a small, unsprayed test strip left in the field will help to determine the real value and performance of the insecticide treatment.

Data from Iowa and neighboring states show that not all insecticides provide equal levels of control. The soybean aphid appears to rebound from some insecticides and a high level (98%) of control is desired. High water volume and high pressure also have been suggested as ways to improve soybean aphid control, especially in fields with a dense plant canopy.

Visit the Iowa Soybean Aphid Task Force Web site at www.soybeanaphid.info for the latest on the spread of this insect in Iowa and more information on how to manage this pest.