Jessica D Hohenstein
Alumni
Postdoc Research Associate
Area of Expertise:
Plant and Insect Genetics, Insect Resistance Management
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Ge Zhang
Alumni
Graduate Research Assistant
Area of Expertise:
Nutrition ecology on Honey bee
Dr. Erin W Hodgson
Faculty
Professor
Extension Entomologist
ANR Crops Team Leader
Area of Expertise:
Field Crop Insects, IPM
Randall P Cass
Staff
Bee Extension Specialist
Area of Expertise:
Honey bees, Native bees, Pollinators
Dr. Matthew E ONeal
Faculty
Professor
Area of Expertise:
Insect Ecology, IPM
We're Back! And we are hot and dry
Show:
Soybean Pest Podcast
Season:
12
Episode:
1
Description:
Season 12 of the soybean pest podcast starts off with a bang, a hot, dry bang. The midwestern drought is affecting all of us, even the 6-legged.
Check the UNL drought monitor for the current status (hint, its bleak: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?IA)
We talk spider mites, cause its hot and dry.
Erin discusses the remarkable pests outbreaks occurring in alfalfa, exacerbated by a mild winter and hot, dry spring.
Matt turns our attention to Japanese beetles (JB), and the duo speculate about the impact weather has on their abundance. Erin notes a trend of JB larvae in the interior of cropfields, not just the edges. (https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/cropnews/2021/06/japanese-beetle-adu...)
Erin notes the first appearance of soybean gall midges in northeaster Iowa. Matt notes some progress in detecting insecticide resistant aphids.
Rootworms are also discussed as we note egg hatch, signaled with the appearance of lightening bugs.
Finally, Erin takes might to school with reports of the Hackberry emperor. Its a pretty butterfly, definitely not a thistle caterpillar and notorious for being a cheater (https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/blog/erin-hodgson/have-you-seen-chea...)
To wrap up- Erin gives updates on her live events and we note the 26 June is pollinator fest at Reiman gardens (https://www.reimangardens.com/event/pollinator-fest-7/)
Also, did we mention its hot and dry?
Stay tuned for weekly updates now that the field season is in full gear.
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It rained, and we still have insects in our crops
Show:
Soybean Pest Podcast
Season:
12
Episode:
2
Description:
Erin and Matt make it back for a second episode. There is a lot of soybean aphid talk in this episode, maybe, maybe too much talk. For a summary of some of that talk, check out this link (https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/blog/ashley-dean-erin-hodgson/first-...).
If you get through the first 15 minutes and are still awake there is another 12 minutes about the following:
- Pea aphids on alfalfa in northern Iowa, may be insecticide resistant.
- Japanese beetle adults have emerged, look to them feeding on corn and soybean. Erin notes that the defoliation on younger soybeans is not 'more bad' than defoliation on older soybeans, it just looks worse because the beans are so small.
- Outside of crop pests, Erin shares a finding of 'kissing bugs' in Nebraska. This is a vector of Chagas disease, which can be lethal. https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Kissing-Bugs-and-Chagas-Disease-Parasite-Detec...
- Matt gives Erin a FIT that involves this picture (what is the insect, listen to the podcast to find out).
- Erin is doing field days throughout the northern part of the state and at FEEL in central Iowa. Check her twitter account for details.
- Matt and many others are sharing their interests, research some swag at the Pollinator Fest at Reiman gardens: https://www.reimangardens.com/event/pollinator-fest-7/
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It's still dry, insects are active, and Matt is talking about pollinators
Show:
Soybean Pest Podcast
Season:
12
Episode:
3
Description:
The 4th of July weekend delayed Matt posting this podcast.
We talk about pests: corn rootworms, japanese beetles, and soybean aphdis. The dry weather is making people worried about two-spotted spider mites, so we talk a bit about that.
Matt gives shares a "Fun (?) Insect Trivia" question about the conservation reserve practice described as "Pollinator Habitat" or CP42. Some new analysis of where CP42 is located in Iowa is the source of this question.
We talk a bit about how and where this conservation practice is placed in Iowa farm land.
For more information about CP42, visit https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/cp42_habitat.pdf
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Flex, fling and lubricate, but really we talk about rootworms
Show:
Soybean Pest Podcast
Season:
12
Episode:
4
Description:
In todays episode, Erin shares her experience seeing RNAi-based techonology for rootworm management in action. She was not impressed. Erin describes her rootworm trapping network as the adult rootworms start to emerge. If you would like to participate, contact Erin's colleague, Ashley Dean at adean@iastate.edu.
We talk about other insects including soybean gall midge, leafhoppers, flea beetles, and eventually soybean aphids.
Matt offers up a Fun (?) Insect Trivia question. After listening read this for more detials: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2021.1065
Matt is talking at the Iowa Honey Producers Association on 10 July. Check this for more details: https://www.iowahoneyproducers.org/
See you next week.
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Half a pod is better than no pod?-Prep for next weeks Fun Insect Trivia question (Now with the picture!)
Show:
Soybean Pest Podcast
Season:
12
Episode:
5
Description:
This half pod is just Matt giving a few updates, a "thank you" to the Iowa Honey Producers Association and preparation for a Fun Insect Trivia (FIT) question for next week.
Erin is out in the field today. She and I will return next week, Tuesday, to discuss what she is seeing in the field and the answer to the FIT.
In the meantime, Matt wraps up the week of 12-16 July. One big observation is the occurence of soybean aphids at really low populations. One encouraging sign is the co-occurence of insect predators and mummies. The mummies are evidence that aphids have been parasitized by wasps. Combined, these predators and parasitoid wasps may prevent outbreaks later in the summer.
Matt gives a big thank you to the Iowa Honey Producers Association for the invite to speak at their field day last weekend. Ebert honey was the host, providing a great location to share our research on prairie strips. The beekeepers were excited to learn more about this practice and how these patches could help improve honey bee productivity.
Finally- Note the blurry picture below. This picture was taken by a colleague working at a central Iowa research farm. Next week, I'll ask Erin what she thinks it is and what impact, if any, it could have on crops in Iowa.
(Matt failed to add it in the original submission. Its added below.)
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