Two insects that growers may be on the lookout for are soybean aphid and western bean cutworm. The recent rain events may have also carried with them early season soybean aphid migrants that are possibly now in soybean fields. The forecast for this week also looks favorable for soybean aphid population growth. Numbers are not likely to reach threshold this week, but you may want to check soybean to see if aphid numbers are beginning to build. Remember that there is usually a time delay before the appearance of natural enemies which will help keep populations low.
The other insect to watch for is western bean cutworm. Based on our adult trapping, numbers sharply increased this week, and we are likely in the midst of peak flight. This is a more northern pest, and farms north of US30 (roughly) should scout their fields for the presence of egg masses or larvae. For more information please see our western bean cutworm fact sheet: http://ohioline.osu.edu/ent-fact/pdf/ENT_40_14.pdf.