Soybean (Glycine max) is a crucial crop globally, utilized for its high protein and oil content. However, soybeans can be significantly affected by various pests, which can impact both yield and quality. Effective pest management is essential for maintaining healthy crops. Here are some common pests that affect soybean crops: Soybean Aphid (Aphis glycines) - This small, sap-sucking insect can cause considerable damage by feeding on the sap of soybean plants. Infestations can lead to leaf curling, reduced growth, and a decrease in yield. They can also transmit plant viruses. Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica) - Adult beetles feed on the leaves of soybean plants, often leaving behind a skeletonized appearance. They can defoliate plants extensively if present in large numbers. Stink Bugs (Various species) - These bugs, including the green stink bug (Chinavia hilaris) and the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys), suck sap from the pods, affecting seed development and quality. They can cause seed discoloration, shriveling, and increased susceptibility to disease. Corn Earworm (Helicoverpa zea) - Also known as the soybean podworm, these caterpillars feed on the flowers and pods of soybean plants, directly damaging the seeds within the pods. Soybean Cyst Nematode (Heterodera glycines) - This is one of the most destructive pests of soybean. These nematodes invade the roots, forming cysts that disrupt the uptake of water and nutrients. Infected plants often show symptoms of yellowing, stunting, and reduced yields. Bean Leaf Beetle (Cerotoma trifurcata) - This beetle feeds on soybean leaves, and can also damage the pods and stems. The feeding on pods can lead to secondary infections by pathogens. Dectes Stem Borer (Dectes texanus) - The larvae of this beetle tunnel into the stems of soybean plants, potentially causing lodging and yield loss. Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) - These nematodes infect the roots, forming galls that hinder nutrient and water uptake, similar to the soybean cyst nematode but often resulting in distinctive gall formations on roots. Spider Mites (Tetranychus spp.) - During hot, dry conditions, spider mites can proliferate and cause significant damage by sucking plant juices from the undersides of leaves, leading to yellowing, bronzing, and potentially plant death if severe. Managing these pests often requires an integrated pest management (IPM) approach, which includes: Regular scouting to monitor pest populations and damage. Cultural controls such as crop rotation, resistant varieties, and maintaining healthy soil. Biological controls through the promotion or introduction of natural enemies such as parasitic wasps, predatory insects, and entomopathogenic fungi. Chemical controls, using insecticides and nematicides judiciously to minimize resistance development and environmental impact. Using pheromone traps and other tactics to disrupt pest mating and reduce populations. This holistic approach helps manage pest

1. Pests of soyabean
By
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD.
Assistant Professor (Entomology)
JSACAT
Affiliated to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University

2. Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, Aleyrodidae, Hemiptera
1
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Symptoms of damage
Due to attack of the insect the leaves
turn yellow and become curled.
This insect spread the mosaic disease
in soybean. Yellow bodied insects with white wings
Wide distribution, Origin in Uganda, to the northern,
central, eastern and coastal regions of Tanzania

3. Leaf hopper, Orosius sp., Cicadellidae, Hemiptera
2
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Infested leaves start yellowing from the margins

4. Sailor butterfly, Neptis jumbha, Nymphalidae,
Lepidoptera
3
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Egg is globular,
with hexagonal
pits
caterpillar has longer
subdorsal spines on
the 3rd thoracic
segment
Adult is black with
white patterns in
wings
Pupa attaches
itself via a
cremaster
Symptoms
Defoliation
Distribution. The species is found in southern India, the Nilgiris the Western Ghats,
northeast India, Myanmar, the Andaman Islands and Sri Lanka.

5. Pod fly, Melanagromyza obtusa, Agromyzidae,
Diptera
Nature of damage
• Young maggot attaches itself on the
immature seed inside the pod.
• In the beginning it feeds on the surface
• Later mines into seeds and makes
galleries
• One seed is enough for the development of
a maggot.
4
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
India, Indonesia, and Malaysia

6. Symptom of damage
• Shriveled pods and seeds.
• Damaged seeds become unfit for consumption
and also do not germinate.
• However, the attack of the fly remains
unnoticed by the farmers due to the concealed
mode of life of this insect within the pods.
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

7. Freshly laid eggs are white, broad and
round at its posterior end which is
embedded in the tissues of the pod and
narrowed anteriorly into a somewhat
elongated egg sheath.
Freshly hatched maggot is white
Full-grown maggot is cylindrical in
shape and is narrower at the head end,
which bears black mouthparts.
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

8. Pupation takes place in hard
chitinous puparium, which is
found sticking to the side of pod.
Abdomen is glossy black,
but in some cases it is slight
bronzy, while in other cases
it has a greenish-blue
background.
Management
Conserve natural enemies like Euderus
lividus, Eurytoma sp., Euderus
agromyzae
Euderus spp. Eurytoma sp.
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

9. Leaf miner/ Surul poochi/ soybean leaf miner,
Aproaerema modicella, Gelechiidae, Lepidoptera
5
Nature of damage
Minute larvae mine into the leaves
Later they web several leaves together
Symptom of damage
Brown blotches in midrib
terminal leaflets with white patches
webbed together
distorted and finally get dried up
Indonesia (Java) and India

10. Management
ETL: 1 larvae/meter row
•Set up light traps @ 1/ha
•Apply anyone of the following insecticides
• Dimethoate 30 EC 660 ml/ha
• Methyl demeton 25% EC 1000 ml/ha Dark brown moth
Laid on the leaves and shoots Small, green in colour with dark head and prothorax