Vegetable Soybean Production, IPM

Insect Pest Management
Vegetable Soybean Production

	Beanfly is a serious pest of soybean. Beanfly larvae feed inside the plant stem and their damage cannot be recognized easily. Beanfly damage is more severe in relatively cool season (e.g. autumn at AVRDC) compared to long dry weather conditions (e.g. spring at AVRDC) due to lower insect populations. Soybean must be protected against beanfly. For the autumn crop at AVRDC, monocrotophos, omethoate or dimethoate is sprayed at the rate of 0.5 kg a.i./ha at 3, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days after emergence (DAE). The first three sprays are very important and should not be delayed. Spraying is stopped at 35 DAE. In spring, usually there is no serious damage by beanfly.
	Pod borers may attack soybean but usually they do not cause significant yield loss under AVRDC conditions if we use insecticides for beanfly control.
	Stink bugs commonly occur on vegetable soybeans late in spring and summer season crops. They do not cause any economic damage under AVRDC conditions. However, if you notice high population (i.e. 3 to 4 insects per meter row) uniformly over the entire field in early pod filling stage, spray insecticides such as fenvalerate at 100-g a.i./ha or deltamethrin at 30-50 g a.i./ha at weekly intervals till the insect infestation is controlled.
	Defoliators feed on leaves. Minor damage does not require insecticide application. However, when the attack is severe, they can also be controlled by the insecticides used for stink bug control.
	Stop spraying chemicals at least 10 days prior to harvest. Overuse of insecticides or fungicides is hazardous for human and animal health.