In recent years we have observed a resurgence on the populations of bean leaf beetles (BLB), the expansion of the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) in western Kentucky in 2020, and the increased presence of grape colaspis (GC) beetles and three-cornered alfalfa hoppers (TCAH). This proposal will continue evaluating the efficacy of single and double mode of action insecticides for the management of BLB and stink bugs; and the secondary pests cited above. BMSB is an invasive species that has more tolerance to pyrethroids that endemic stink bugs, and the TCAH caused an outbreak in Butler Co. in 2020. Studies will be conducted at the Research and Education Center in Princeton and through visits to at least 4 different commercial fields in Central and Western KY. Also, foliage tissue and beans will be collected from at least ten commercial fields located in several counties that mainly represent soybean acreage in KY. Samples will be collected at least 3 times (V3, R5, and seeds after harvest), all they will be outsourced for virus analysis to determine the infection rates of pod mottle virus. All this information from studies and virus analyses will be summarized and delivered to end users using printed, digital media and in growers and professional meetings.

1. Assess the impact of insecticide sprays for key (BLB and BMSB) and emerging (Grape colaspis and TCAH) pest during early and late development stages of soybeans in replicate plot tests. 2. Evaluate abundances of insects discussed above in commercial soybean fields and detect the presence of bean pod mottle virus in early and late developmental stages of the plants. 3. Transfer all information generated in this study to end users through the use of digital, printed and extension conferences.

Deliver all information obtained in this proposal to different audiences through presentation in local, regional, and national meetings. Publish online/printed articles and videos published in Kentucky Pest News Blog and UKY Soybean newsletter. A peer-reviewed publication after a second year of research. Train a young field applied entomology to an agricultural worker. Report to KSB.

Soybeans host numerous insect pests, some of them are identified as damaging pests whereas others can damage the crop when environmental conditions are favorable. Monitoring insects during the growing season provides information necessary to make opportune decision regarding spray timing. The success of pest management is also determined by the efficacy of the insecticides. The main goal of this study was to assess the impact of insecticide sprays on important pests of soybeans: bean leaf beetles, grape colaspis, Japanese beetles, three-cornered alfalfa hoppers, and caterpillars. Experimental plots were setup at the UK-REC, Princeton, and commercial soybean fields. Baythroid XL, Hero®, Leverage® 360, Lorsban, Mustang Maxx and Warrior II with Zeon technology were sprayed on August 5, 2021. Insects were counted a day before the spray, and then at 5, 7, 15, and 21 days after the insecticide application. A 15-inch net was used to capture insects, and 10 sweep nets/plot were applied. Grape colaspis and Japanese beetles were knocked out by the tested insecticides at day five. Three-cornered alfalfa leaf hopper was captured in low numbers (<3TCALH/10 sweeps); thus, no clear population trend was observed. Bean leaf beetle populations decreased immediately after the spray, but insect counts increased after 15 days. Caterpillar numbers were lower in all insecticides treated plots until 15 days after spray, thereafter, Leverage and Mustang Maxx were still effective until day 21. Stink bug population decreased at day 7 after spray in all insecticides, then differences between non spray plots and insecticide treated plots was observed at 21 days after spray. No differences on efficacy among insecticides were observed. Also, two additional studies were included; (1) the expansion of the brown marmorated stink bug to Western KY, where is now the second most abundant species in less than two years and (2) the outbreak of the fall armyworm that affected double crop soybeans; a study showed that a two mode of action insecticide Besiege was effective to control this pest and in many cases farmers used this product successfully.

In recent years we have observed a resurgence on the populations of bean leaf beetles (BLB), the expansion of the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) in western Kentucky in 2020, and the increased presence of grape colaspis (GC) beetles and three-cornered alfalfa hoppers (TCAH). This proposal will continue evaluating the efficacy of single and double mode of action insecticides for the management of BLB and stink bugs; and the secondary pests cited above. BMSB is an invasive species that has more tolerance to pyrethroids that endemic stink bugs, and the TCAH caused an outbreak in Butler Co. in 2020. Studies will be conducted at the Research and Education Center in Princeton and through visits to at least 4 different commercial fields in Central and Western KY. Also, foliage tissue and beans will be collected from at least ten commercial fields located in several counties that mainly represent soybean acreage in KY. Samples will be collected at least 3 times (V3, R5, and seeds after harvest).