Identification & Incidence: Soybean emergence failure due to feeding by small, yellowish-white, legless fly larvae (maggots) on germinating seeds. Damage is likely to occur in fields having high organic matter (especially fields that have had green material, such as cover crops or weeds incorporated into the soil) and when cool and damp soil conditions delay emergence.
Sampling: Maggots may be detected by inspecting areas in the field exhibiting lack of emergence. Check seed to see if maggot damage has occurred.
Economic Threshold: No economic threshold exists for this insect and no rescue treatment is available.
Management Options: Seed maggot injury may be prevented by use of seed treatment at planting. See chart for insecticides labeled for SCM.