Spider mites infest dry Iowa
by Matt O’Neal, Department of Entomology
With the continued hot, dry weather conditions, especially in eastern Iowa, there is growing need to scout soybeans. Reports are coming in of soybean fields suffering from spider mites as well as isolated fields with more than 250 soybean aphids per plant. Growers should be aware of the similarities and differences between these two pests, and adjust their management plans accordingly. Below I highlight some of these differences and suggest some options for managing these pests where they may occur in combination.