Soybean Gall Midge
Soybean Gall Midge (SGM) is a new pest to soybeans that was first reported in Nebraska in 2011. For many years it was an isolated pest of previously damaged crops that didn’t warrant concern. This changed in 2018 and 2019 when the population exploded. SGM became more widespread and didn’t seem to require crop damage to lead to penetrate the plants. Infestations also occurred much earlier in the growing season than normal leading to significant yield loss in areas.
Soybean Gall Midge has been identified in 90+ counties of Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota. Adults of this pest are a tiny fly similar to a mosquito but much smaller. They emerge early-mid June and lay eggs at the base of soybean plants. These eggs hatch and the larvae enter the base of the soybean plant to feed, cutting off nutrients to the plant and killing it. This life cycle takes roughly 30 days to complete. It appears that we will have two complete generations during a summer along with a partial 3rd that will over winter in soybean residue to start the cycle again. It is important to begin scouting for this pest in mid-late June and report findings back to your states Extension to help track this pest and learn more about control options.
Scouting for Soybean Gall Midge
Scouting for Soybean Gall Midge can be tricky. Here are some tips to help. If you have an area you suspect may be Gall Midge, contact your Jacobsen Seed Representative for help as well.
- Start scouting soybean fields when they have reached or passed V3 (3 trifoliate leaves).
- Focus on field borders. Especially those that are in continuous contact with soybeans due to rotation or those that border grassy areas.
- Look for plants that are dead, wilted, or have a base that looks very dark brown to black.
- Pull these plants from the ground and carefully peel back the outer layer of skin on the soybean stem. Larvae start out almost clear but turn a bright orange as they mature which is helpful since they are so small.
There are currently no consistent control measures for this Soybean Gall Midge. The main goal of scouting is to identify and track the pest to continue to learn more. To sign up to receive alerts regarding adult emergence, send an email with your name, phone number and email address to justin.mcmechan@unl.edu with the subject line “SGM Alert Network”. Those that signed up in 2018/19 do not need to sign up again.