During the 2015 growing season, failures of foliar insecticide applications to control soybean aphid were first reported in Minnesota growers’ fields and at University of Minnesota Experiment Stations.
Areas of southern Minnesota required multiple applications to control the pest. Ultimately, laboratory assays confirmed soybean aphid resistance to pyrethroids.
Suspect insecticide resistance? Tell us.
You can help us identify how serious and widespread the soybean aphid issue may be. If you experience an insecticide failure and suspect resistance, please consider sharing that with us.
Insecticide resistance guidance and strategies
Causes of insecticide failure
Insecticides can fail under several conditions. Before assuming resistance caused your insecticide failure, rule out these common factors:
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Insecticide misapplication: This can include choosing the wrong insecticide, applying the wrong rate and/or having poor application coverage.
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Unfavorable weather: Wind, rain and temperature can impact insecticide effectiveness. For example, some pyrethroids can be less effective at high temperatures.
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Pest recolonization: For example, winged soybean aphid from other fields may recolonize a field that had been treated.
If you can rule out these factors as potential causes for the insecticide failure, insecticide resistance might be the cause.
If you suspect insecticide resistance, please take a few minutes to fill out this survey to report insecticide resistance.
Reviewed in 2018