Effects of sulfoxaflor on the soybean aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and predators

Soybean aphid, Aphis glycines, is a major pest of soybean. Current management relies on application of insecticide when soybean aphid populations reach the economic threshold. However, the broad-spectrum insecticides (e.g., organophosphate, pyrethroid) used to treat aphids are toxic to natural enemies. Multiple studies have demonstrated that natural enemies are important to suppressing soybean aphid populations; therefore, selective insecticides are needed to conserve natural enemies of the soybean aphid. A new insecticide, sulfoxaflor, recently registered for use in soybean needs to be evaluated for efficacy against soybean aphid and impacts on natural enemies.  Field and laboratory experiments were performed to examine the impact of sulfoxaflor for use in soybean aphid management. Sulfoxaflor was as effective as a broad-spectrum insecticide (i.e., lambda-cyhalothrin) for soybean aphid suppression, and was relatively less toxic than the broad-spectrum insecticide to predators.  We conclude that sulfoxaflor holds potential for better integration of chemical and biological control for soybean aphid management.