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Crop Protection Guides

Soybean Insect Pests
 

Girdle Beetle
Oberia brevis


Found most commonly in India


Damage symptoms

Early symptoms include the drying of the edges of trifoliate leaves. Seedlings and young plants are wilted or dead. On older plants, all or part of the leaves are wilted and brown. Plants may fall over (lodge). Petioles or the main stem have two parallel girdles.


Insect characteristics

Chewing mouthparts. The adult beetle has a hard shell-like exterior and rather long antennae. The larva is a white, soft-bodied worm with a dark head.


Where to look

Adult feeding can be seen most easily by looking at the main stem and petioles. You will notice the two parallel girdles. To locate the larva, cut open the stems and petioles where girdling has occurred.

Damage
Damage
 

Adult
Adult


Technical information

The female beetle lays up to 75 eggs very close to the lower girdle. The larva feeds and hollows out the inside of the stem. This weakens the basic structure of the plant and causes the plant to lodge. Seed yield may be significantly reduced. This insect is confined to the Indian subcontinent.


Control

Spraying insecticides on the crop is the only measure to combat this pest. Endolsulfan, dimethoate, and methyl demeton are recommended.
 

Last updated: 2001. 
Information from: Field Guide: Insect Pests of Selected Vegetables in Tropical and Subtropical Asia. 1995. B.L. Parker, N.S. Talekar and M. Skinner. Publication 94-427. Pesticide and other control methods should be adapted to local conditions.

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