The soybean aphid (Aphis glycines Matsumura) is a major new invasive insect herbivore in North America. In these new environments, A. glycines is interacting with both native and exotic natural enemies, primarily generalist predators. We examined the influence of existing predator communities on A. glycines establishment and population growth in Michigan soybeans in 2002. Field plots were artificially infested with Aphis glycines at an average density of 110.5 aphids per square meter. In selected plots aphids were protected from predation by use of exclusion cages. Measurements of aphid and predator abundance were taken bi-weekly from late May to late July. The exclusion cage treatment successfully excluded predators and A. glycines populations subsequently increased. In the open treatment predator abundance was higher, and A. glycines population increase was slowed. Common predators included the lady beetle Coccinella septempunctata (L.) and the minute pirate bug Orius insidiosus (Say).
Species 1: Homoptera Aphididae Aphis glycines (Soybean Aphid)
Species 2: Coleoptera Coccinellidae Coccinella septempunctata (Seven Spotted Lady Beetle)
Species 3: Heteroptera Anthocoridae Orius insidiosus (Minute Pirate Bug)
Keywords: natural enemies, aphid abundance
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