Soybean Aphid - Natural enemies and biological control

Binodoxys communis, an aphid parasitoid, emerging from a parasitized aphid.This summer the aphid natural enemy was released in field cages in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Photo credit: University of Minnesota

An aphid mummy that was parasitized by Binodoxys communis, an aphid parasitoid. Photo credit: Dan Mahr, University of Wisconsin

Orius insidiosus with aphid (click on image to view a larger version). Photo credit: Marlin Rice. See the ICM article: Purdue University identifies the #1 predator of soybean aphids

The best option for long-term control of the soybean aphid is to reestablish their natural enemies. The soybean aphid is only a sporadic pest in most of it's native range in China, Japan and Korea because of the presence of parasites and predators that keep them in check.

Quite a few natural enemies are already at work in North Central soybean fields, and researchers in the region are working towards the release of additional aphid parasites collected from their native areas.

Predators of the soybean aphid include the Multicolored Asian lady beetle, larvae of the syrphid or hover fly, adults and nymphs of the Minute Pirate Bug, parasitoid wasps, and lacewing larvae.

Consider the presence of natural predators and parasitized aphids when scouting and assessing treatment options and timing.  Broad-spectrum foliar insecticides kill natural enemies and may result in a resurgence of aphid populations if applied too early before thresholds

are reached. This is because the aphids are all female during the summer and don't need to mate. The reproduction of natural enemies is much slower and requires time for mating, egg-laying, and hatch.

Predators of the soybean aphid include the Multicolored Asian lady beetle, larvae of the syrphid or hover fly, adults and nymphs of the Minute Pirate Bug, parasitoid wasps, and lacewing larvae, and the incidious flower bus, Orius insidiosus. Purdue University entomologists have recently identified Orius insidiosus as the number one predator of soybean aphids in Indiana.

View images of these and other natural enemies of soybean aphids at the Soybean Aphid Biological Control (SABC) website and at the Illinois Natural History Survey : The Good Guys - Natural Enemies of Insects.

Read more:
Soybean Aphid Biological Control...An Exotic Approach»
NCSRP-funded research project on aphid natural enemies»

Ladybeetle larva Photo credit: University of Wisconsin

Brown lacewing larva. Photo credit: Dan Mahr

Information on these pages is from the cooperative effort of researchers throughout the North Central states. Information from this site can be copied and distributed for educational use. Please credit the source with our name and URL: NCSRP Plant Health Initiative at www.planthealth.info. Please do not use copyrighted photos without permission.