This document provides information about the pest Oberea brevis that infests soybean crops. It describes the lifecycle and appearance of the larva and adult forms of O. brevis. The pest causes damage by boring into soybean stems as larvae and forming tunnels, which can sever the stems and dry out plant portions. Management strategies include deep plowing, removing infested plant parts, and applying appropriate pesticides when economic thresholds are reached.

1. Course No. AENT – 5312
Course Title – Pests of crop and stored grain and their management

2.  Soybean (Glycine max L. Merril) is the
world’s most important seed legume,
which contributes to 25 % of the
global edible oil.
 In the past, there were few pests that
caused significant damage to
soybean. In resent years, several
pests have mad their presence felt
throughout the soybean growing
region.
Soyabean:-
Glycine max, leguminaceae

3. S.N. :- Oberea (Obereopsis)
brevis
Family:- Cerambycidae
Order:- Coleoptera
Distribution:- This is more
common in M.P, Rajasthan and
West Bengal. Its first
occurrence was seen in M.P.
Host ranges:- Soyabean,
pigeon pea, black gram, green
gram, sunflower, etc

4. • Larva: White, soft-bodied worm with a dark head.
• Adult:The freshly emerged adult is yellow, red, brown on
the head, thorax and bases of elytra. The adult beetle is
characterized by its yellow-red head and chest coloration,
and brown colored bases of elytra (wing covers).
• The eggs are laid in between girdles by the females.
• Larvae will bore into stem and feed on the inside, forming
a tunnel in the stem.

5. • The incidence of girdle beetles is observed at the seedling
stage. The presence of 2 circular cuts on the branch or stem is
a characteristic symptom. Larvae bore into the stem of
soybean. The inside of the stem is eaten by the larvae,
forming tunnels within the stem. The infected portion above
the circular cut is unable to get any nutrition so it dries up. In
the later stages of infestation, the plant is severed at about 15
to 25 cm above the ground.
• The main damage is caused by the larvae of the insect. The
attack of the insect initially begins in the last week of July to
the first fortnight of August. The insect remains active from
July to October, damaging the crop most severely during
August and September. Heavy incidence may reduce the yield
by up to 40%.

6. • Girdling of stems and petioles
• The inside of the stem is eaten
by the larvae and a tunnel is
formed inside the stem.
• The leaves of plant of infected
portion are unable to get the
nutrient and are dried up.
• In later stages the plant is cut at
about 15 to 25 cm above the
ground.

7. • Practice deep summer ploughing
• Sow the crop at the proper time i.e. at the onset of monsoon, with the recommended seed
rate of 75 kg/ha. The crop should not be overcrowded
• Sow tolerant varieties such as NRC-12 or NRC-7
• Avoid excess nitrogenous fertilizers
• Destroy crop residues
• Collect and destroy infested plant parts at least once every 10 days
• Apply pesticides if pest population crosses the Economic Threshold Level (5 per cent
damaged plants)
• Spray NSKE 5% or azadirachtin 10,000 ppm @1 ml per 1 litre of water to avoid the pest
laying eggs
• Apply Cartap hydrochloride 4 G @ 4 kg/acre at the time of sowing
• Spray lambda cyhalothrin 5% EC @ 10 ml or dimethoate 25% EC @ 2 ml per liter of water
30-35 days after sowing and repeat 15-20 days after the first spraying if infestation is
observed

8. • S.N. Melanagromyza sojae
• Family :- Agromyzidae
• Order :- Diptera
• Distribution:-
• Host ranges:- It is a major pest of blackgram, greengram
and soybean.

9. • Maggot: White in colour and remains inside the
stem.
• Adult: Flies are shining black and about 1.60-
1.88mm long, 4.45mm wing span, metallic black
colour with a metallic shiny abdomen. Antennae,
legs, and bristles on head and thorax are all black.
The wings are transparent.

10. Total life cycle
completed in 25-30
days

11. • Symptoms of damage
• The eggs are laid on leaves.
• After hatching from the egg yellowish maggots bore the
nearest vein of the leaf.
• The maggot then reach the stem through petiole and bore
down the stem.
• If the infected stem is opened by splitting, distinct zig zag
reddish tunnel can be seen with maggot or pupae inside it.
• The maggots feed on cortical layers of the stem, may extend
to tap root, killing of the plant.

12. • Deep summer ploughing.
• Avoid pre monsoon sowing.
• Use optimum seed rate and plant spacing.
• Proper crop rotation with dissimilar crops should be followed.
• Remove and destroy the damaged plant parts.
• Soil application of phorate 10 G @ 10 kg/ha or carbofuran 3 G
@ 30 kg/ha at the time of sowing will prevent early infestation
by stem fly.
• One or two sprays of 0.03% dimethoate 30 EC or 0.05%
quinalphos 25 EC can stop the damage.

13. • S.N. :- Bemisia tabaci
• Family:- Aleurodidae
• Order :- Hemiptera

14.  Small insects.
 Most species with a wingspan of
less than 3 mm and a body length
of 1 mm to 2mm.
 Adults have well-developed
antennae, which in most species
in this family are seven-

15.  There are two ocelli, which generally
in the Aleyrodidae are placed at the
anterior margins of the compound
eyes.
 Both sexes have functional
mouthparts and two pairs
of membranous, functional
wings.
 The wing venation is reduced.

16.  White appearance of adults due to
deposition of wax on the body and
wings.

17.  The adult female lays eggs which
are provided with a stalk or
pedicel at one end with which
they are attached to the leaf.
 The first instar is called
crawler.
 The legs and antennae of the
second, third, and fourth nymphal
instars are atrophied and these
instars are sessile.
 The adult develop within the
quiescent fourth instars.

18.  Whiteflies feed by tapping into the phloem of
plants, introducing toxic saliva and
decreasing the plants' overall turgor pressure.
 Since whiteflies congregate in large numbers,
susceptible plants can be quickly
overwhelmed.
 Further harm is done by mold growth
encouraged by the honeydew whiteflies
secrete.

19.  Whitefly control is
difficult and
complex, as
whiteflies rapidly
develop resistance
to chemical
pesticides.

20.  Several predators and
parasitoids may be
effective in controlling
whitefly infestations,
including green
lacewings, ladybirds,
minute pirate bugs,
big-eyed bugs, damsel
bugs, and phytoseiid
mites.
Pirate bug feeding on whitefly larvae

21.  A number of plants can be intercropped with
vegetables, in a garden setting, serving as
companion plants to protect against
whiteflies.
EXAMPLES
 Nasturtiums are thought to provide a defense
to tomatoes.

22.  Zinnias, attract predators that consume
whiteflies, including hummingbirds and
predatory wasps and flies.