Biological Control of the Soybean Aphid - an on-going NCSRP research project

This summer, Binodoxys communis, an aphid parasitoid, was released in field cages in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The releases represent a milestone towards our long-term goal of introducing parasitoids that survive and reproduce in the Midwest and hold down aphid numbers from year-to-year with no further inputs.

When the soybean aphid (Aphis glycines) arrived to the United States it left behind its natural enemies —the predators, parasites and pathogens that kill it — in its homeland, Asia. If we can re-unite old enemies, an approached termed, “importation biological control”, we may reduce the chances of a devastatingly large population of aphid from appearing and the economic impact experienced by U.S. soybean producers.

In Asia, the spraying for soybean aphids is very limited because these natural enemies provide most of the control, saving thousands and thousands of dollars in the cost of pesticides. Biological control also means less chemical residue on crops due to spraying.

Nine potential aphid enemies identified so far

The soybean aphid, which first appeared in the United State in 2000, has some enemies already at work in this country, including many native and at least one non-native, the Asian lady beetle. Unfortunately, the beetle has become an unwelcome guest in homes throughout the Midwest and other parts of the country.

Because of the problems associated with the Asian lady beetle and others, researchers are paying close attention to the consequences of introducing new natural enemies. In addition to the laboratory testing, the first limited releases of such species are conducted within cages.

So far nine soybean aphid enemies have been identified on previous trips to Japan, China, and Korea. They are quarantined at the University of Minnesota and the USDA Agricultural Research Service lab in Newark, DE.

A cooperative venture

The most promising candidates are being tested in field research in the U.S. and in Asia to evaluate the relative risks and control potential. Once researchers have identified a natural enemy that holds promise to provide economic control of the aphid, they will make it available to cooperators throughout the Midwest
for area-wide release and subsequent control evaluations. Plans have been made to work closely with local Extension offices and soybean producer groups to inform growers of the progress and effectiveness of soybean aphid biological control. The official website for the project is at Soybean Aphid Biological Control.

Participating institutions include Purdue University, the University of Illinois, the Illinois Natural History Survey, Iowa State University, Michigan State University, the University of Minnesota, the USDA/ARS, and
the University of Wisconsin. Overseas research is in collaboration with a number of research institutions in Japan, China and Korea.

Almost invisible destructive insect sends researchers to the Far East
Interview with project leader, Bob O'Neil, Purdue University

Binodoxys communis Field Cage Releases for Control of Soybean Aphid - Summer 2007
Soybean Aphid Biological Control website

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.