Resource Center Detail
FS System
  • About FS
    • FS Retailers
    • Sustainability
      • Enduring Farms
      • Pollinator Habitats
      • Carbon Solutions
    • Careers
  • Products & Services
    • Agriculture
      • FS Seed
        • Yield Results
        • Seed Product Catalog
      • Crop Protection
        • FS Adjuvants
      • Crop Nutrients
      • FS Agri-Finance
      • FS MiField
    • Energy
      • Fuels & Lubricants Product Catalog
      • Propane
        • Residential Propane
      • FS Fuels & Additives
      • FS Lubricants
      • FS Coolants/Antifreeze
      • Energy Equipment
      • FAST STOP Gas Stations
    • Grain
      • Grain Marketing
      • Grain Systems & Buildings
    • Turf
    • FS Construction Services
    • myFS
  • Resource Center
  • About FS
    • FS Retailers
    • Sustainability
      • Enduring Farms
      • Pollinator Habitats
      • Carbon Solutions
    • Careers
  • Products & Services
    • Agriculture
      • FS Seed
        • Yield Results
        • Seed Product Catalog
      • Crop Protection
        • FS Adjuvants
      • Crop Nutrients
      • FS Agri-Finance
      • FS MiField
    • Energy
      • Fuels & Lubricants Product Catalog
      • Propane
        • Residential Propane
      • FS Fuels & Additives
      • FS Lubricants
      • FS Coolants/Antifreeze
      • Energy Equipment
      • FAST STOP Gas Stations
    • Grain
      • Grain Marketing
      • Grain Systems & Buildings
    • Turf
    • FS Construction Services
    • myFS
  • Resource Center
  • About FS
  • Careers
  • Resource Center
  • Contact Us
Please enter zipcode
Please select an area

Redirecting to your selected FS Company site in 3 seconds...

Visit website now
Change My Selected Company
Your Local FS Company:
, - Main Office
Visit website
Change
Thank you. A representative will contact you shortly.
Error! Please try again later!
×


×
Find your local FS Retailer
Please enter zipcode
Please select an area
Thank you. A representative will contact you shortly.
Error! Please try again later..
×
Find your local FS Retailer
Please enter zipcode!
Please select an Area
Thank you. A representative will contact you shortly.
Error! Please try again later..
×

Whiteflies in Soybeans

08/14/2019
soybeans insects whiteflies
E-mail Share Print
  • Whiteflies are tiny, white, winged insects that have been noted in many soybean fields.
  • These insects are seldom a significant threat and insecticide application is unlikely to be necessary.
  • In addition to the whiteflies that you may be currently seeing in soybean fields, there is another commonly encountered species that feeds on velvetleaf (banded-wing whitefly).
  • Yellowing and wilting of soybean leaves may occur when nymphs and adults both feed on leaves.

However, in the soybean fields we have scouted this year, where whitefly activity is present, only adults have been observed.

Whiteflies are tiny, white, winged insects that have been noted in many soybean fields.In some cases, numbers have built up to levels where these insects “fog off “ the soybeans during scouting visits.Whiteflies and their immature stages (nymphs) feed with piercing and sucking mouthparts, mostly on the underside of soybean leaves.In most fields, in spite of the “fogs” of adult whiteflies observed in fields, these insects are seldom a significant threat and insecticide application is unlikely to be necessary.

Female whiteflies live for 10 to 24 days and lay between 66 and 300 eggs, depending on the plant host and environment.The flies often turn as they lay the eggs, so the eggs are laid in an arc on the underside of the leaf. (Image 1 below) Eggs hatch in about a week at room temperature.

Image 1:  Whitefly egg mass

Whitefly_eggs.jpg

There are 4 nymphal or larval development stages.(Image 2 below)Nymphs are very small, oval in shape, and flattened.They are pale, almost transparent, in appearance.The first stage nymph is a crawler that can move a short distance from its hatch site.The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th instar nymphs settle at one feeding site and don’t move any farther.

Image 2:  Whitefly larvae or nymph

Whitefly larvae or nymph.jpg

Development of whitefly nymphs takes a total of about 11 to 15 days, so a whole generation is complete in 3 to 4 weeks.

There are several species of whiteflies.Some are very host specific, while others have a broad host range.In addition to the whiteflies that you may be currently seeing in soybean fields, there is another commonly encountered species that feeds on velvetleaf (Image 3 below - banded-wing whitefly).Where whiteflies become a problem, yellowing and wilting of soybean leaves may occur when nymphs and adults both feed on leaves. (Image 4 below – greenhouse whitefly adult) It generally takes a very large number of whiteflies and their nymphs to cause wilting of soybeans.

Image 3:  Banded wing whitefly

Whitefly_banded wing.jpg

Image 4: Greenhouse whitefly adults

Whitefly_greenhouse adults.jpg

In the past, Kentucky has reported presence of the silverleaf whitefly, also called the sweetpotato whitefly.This species is particularly troubling because it transmits viruses of cucurbits and tomatoes, and is resistant to several insecticides.Though they look much alike, there are features of both the adult and nymphs that can be used to identify them.In particular, the sides of the greenhouse whitefly are perpendicular to the leaf surface (Image 5 below), whereas the sides of the silverleaf whitefly are sloped or angled.

Image 5:  Perpendicular sides of the greenhouse whitefly larvae

Whitefly_perpendicular sides larvae.jpg


Related Articles

Your Goals, Your Plan, Your Way
Nov 30, 2020

Over the years, we have seen many of our customers have success using the following tools to put together a winning marketing plan.

Read The Full Story
Wheat Planting Considerations for Insects & Diseases
Oct 6, 2020

Key decisions made before wheat planting have a large impact on the success of the season-long pest management program. Perhaps the most important pre-season decision with any crop is ...

Read The Full Story
Grape Colaspis Damages Soybeans and Corn
Jun 26, 2018

Larvae look very much like tiny white grubs, about 1/8 to 1/5 inch long and slightly curved.

Read The Full Story

Related Videos

FS HiSOY Product Spotlight - HS 32X90 & HS 35X90
Dec 19, 2019

Exciting new FS HiSOY products in the group three maturity range. HS 32X90 and HS 35X90. Both had high yields in 2018 trials, and bring an overall strong agronomic package.

Watch Video
FS HiSOY Product Spotlight - HS 19X90 & 21X90
Oct 29, 2019

Learn about two new exciting high-yielding products - HS 19X90 & 21X90.

Watch Video
  • About FS
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • FS Retailers
  • Resource Center
  • SDS
  • Sustainability
  • Become A Member
  • Site Page Map
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Anti-Forced Labor Statement
  • Products & Services
    • Agriculture
      • FS Seed
        • Yield Results
        • Seed Product Catalog
      • Crop Protection
        • FS Adjuvants
      • Crop Nutrients
      • FS Agri-Finance
      • FS MiField
    • Energy
      • Fuels & Lubricants Product Catalog
      • Propane
        • Residential Propane
      • FS Fuels & Additives
      • FS Lubricants
      • FS Coolants/Antifreeze
      • Energy Equipment
      • FAST STOP Gas Stations
    • Grain
      • Grain Marketing
      • Grain Systems & Buildings
    • Turf
    • FS Construction Services
    • myFS

FS System

United States
1701 Towanda Avenue,
Bloomington, IL 61701
(309) 557-6000

Canada
105 Silvercreek Pkwy N Suite 200,
Guelph, ON N1H 8M1
(800) 265-7292

© Copyright 2025 GROWMARK, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Your choice regarding cookies on this site:

We use cookies to optimize site functionality and give you the best possible experience.
Learn More

Your choice regarding cookies on this site:

We use cookies to optimize site functionality and give you the best possible experience.
Learn More