Aphis glycines

Matsumura, 1917

Soybean Aphid

Aphis glycines, the , is a small (1–2 mm) pest native to Asia that was first detected in North America in Wisconsin in 2000. It has since become established throughout the north-central United States, where it causes significant economic damage to soybean crops. The reproduces rapidly and can develop extremely high densities on soybean foliage, with yield losses of up to 40% documented in heavily infested fields. Research has shown that can also increase plant susceptibility to other pests such as soybean cyst .

Harmoniafeeding by Marlin Rice, Iowa State University. Used under a Attribution license.

Soybeanaphid by Claudio Gratton, University of Wisconsin. Used under a Attribution license.

Cycle de vie du puceron du soja by David Voegtlin, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Aphis glycines: //ˈeɪfɪs ˈɡlaɪsiːniːz//

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Identification

Distinguished from other by its exclusive association with soybean (Glycine max) in North America. Small size and colonial habit on soybean foliage are diagnostic. Other Aphis species may occur on soybeans but A. glycines is the primary pest species in the region.

Images

Habitat

Agricultural fields of soybean (Glycine max); occurs on leaves and upper stems of plants. Thrives in temperate climates with suitable host availability.

Distribution

Native to Asia (China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand). in North America: first documented in Wisconsin in July 2000, now established throughout the north-central United States including Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and surrounding soybean-growing regions.

Diet

Phloem-feeding on soybean (Glycine max). Sucks sap from leaves and stems, causing direct damage and potential transmission of plant viruses.

Host Associations

Glycine max - primary soybean; sole in North America

Life Cycle

Reproduces via during the growing season, producing live young. Females carry developing nymphs internally, visible as spots within the maternal body. Multiple per year in temperate regions. mechanism in North America involves to buckthorn (Rhamnus spp.) for and -laying, though details of this portion of the are less documented in the range.

Behavior

Forms dense colonies on soybean foliage. Capable of extremely rapid increase under favorable conditions. Has been observed to trigger abscisic acid responses in susceptible soybean varieties as a 'decoy' strategy to circumvent plant defense mechanisms.

Ecological Role

Major agricultural pest in North American soybean production. Serves as prey for numerous natural enemies including convergent lady beetles (Hippodamia convergens), insidious flower bugs (Orius insidiosus), green lacewings (Chrysoperla rufilabris), and other and —more than 40 documented in North America.

Human Relevance

Significant economic pest of soybeans in the United States, with management costs of $25–50 per hectare and potential yield losses up to 40%. Subject of extensive research, including development of (250 aphids per plant) and evaluation of selective such as sulfoxaflor that preserve beneficial . - have been confirmed in multiple states since 2017, complicating management. Featured in scientific literature on plant-insect interactions, including cover photos in Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions.

Similar Taxa

Other Aphis speciesGeneral morphological similarity; distinguished by specificity and molecular identification
Acyrthosiphon pisum (pea aphid)Overlaps in agricultural ; distinguished by plant preference and morphological details

More Details

Research significance

Subject of studies on -based defense mechanisms in soybeans, including work by Dr. Gustavo MacIntosh at Iowa State University on how aphids manipulate plant abscisic acid signaling to suppress defenses.

Management challenges

Current management relies heavily on and with only two , creating significant risk of insecticide resistance development.