Dectes stem borer: Injury and damage

Damage from this pest is rarely reported. The injury, or girdling activity, of this pest happens after soybean has matured and lodging does not always result. However, field edges can be damaged by this insect if they move from weedy edges and into soybean fields. Additionally, wild and cultivated sunflower are preferred and a more suitable host than soybean (Michaud and Grant 2005). Therefore, planting soybean near sunflower (or into fields previously planted to sunflower) may result in high infestation of Dectes stem borer in soybean. Reduced tillage areas may promote overwintering of Dectes stem borer.