

Reviews in Canada and Minnesota have documented Macrosaccus morrisella, a local leaf-mining moth species (grownup proven right here), infesting soybean. Whereas the potential risk the species poses to soybean crops stays to be seen, a brand new information within the Journal of Built-in Pest Administration profiles the species and alerts growers on what to observe for. (Picture by Joseph Moisan-De Serres)
By Arthur Vieira Ribeiro, Ph.D., and Robert L. Koch, Ph.D.
Soybean is a vital crop used as meals and feed worldwide, and the USA is without doubt one of the main producers. A plethora of herbivores, together with native and invasive species, colonize and feed on soybean crops. Amongst this herbivorous group, some species are thought of extra menacing as a result of they will trigger financial harm when in excessive numbers. As if this group was not giant sufficient already, a local leaf-mining insect, Macrosaccus morrisella, seems to have joined in, increasing its vary of host crops to now embrace soybean, as nicely.
In a paper revealed in November within the open-access Journal of Built-in Pest Administration—in collaboration with Joseph Moisan-De Serres from the Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Meals—we offer first experiences of this insect feeding on soybean in Canada and the USA. In Québec, Canada, leaf mines had been noticed over a number of years and, extra lately, additionally in soybean fields in Minnesota, United States. Heavy infestations with greater than 10 mines per leaflet had been noticed in Québec, whereas solely gentle infestations with scattered crops displaying signs had been seen in Minnesota.

Macrosaccus morrisella is thought to feed on crops of the Fabaceae household, of which soybean is a member. Larvae (such because the one proven right here) feed contained in the soybean leaves, and the damage—white-colored, blotch-type leaf mines—could be simply detected on the decrease floor of the leaves. (Picture by Robert L. Koch, Ph.D.)

Macrosaccus morrisella is thought to feed on crops of the Fabaceae household, of which soybean is a member. Larvae feed contained in the soybean leaves, and the damage—white-colored, blotch-type leaf mines, as proven right here—could be simply detected on the decrease floor of the leaves. (Picture by Joseph Moisan-De Serres)
A number of small beetles are identified to mine the leaves of soybean in North America, however M. morrisella is definitely a tiny moth (larvae: 4.7 millimeters lengthy; adults: 6-7 millimeters). Macrosaccus morrisella is thought to feed on crops of the Fabaceae household, together with American hog peanut. Soybean is a member of this similar plant household. Macrosaccus morrisella larvae feed contained in the soybean leaves, and the damage—white-colored, blotch-type leaf mines—could be simply detected on the decrease floor of the leaves.
The precise harm this new herbivore could cause to soybean manufacturing and extent of infestations in soybean fields in North America are nonetheless unknown. Subsequent steps ought to concentrate on assessing its potential impacts to soybean, geographic extent of infestations of soybean fields, and ecology in agroecosystems. Such info and data on different leaf miners in soybean will assist the event of administration practices, in case infestations of this new herbivore in soybean enhance.
Arthur Vieira Ribeiro, Ph.D. is a postdoctoral affiliate and Robert L. Koch, Ph.D., is an affiliate professor and extension entomologist each on the College of Minnesota Division of Entomology. E-mail: vieir054@umn.edu, koch0125@umn.edu.
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