Fauna
Insect

Soybean Aphid

Aphis glycines

Also known as Asian Soybean Aphid

Soybean aphids are small, pale yellow insects with black siphuncles that feed on the phloem sap of soybean plants and winter on buckthorn bushes. Populations increase rapidly through asexual reproduction during the warm summer, producing winged adults when crop plants become crowded or stressed. Dense colonies cause leaf curling and yellowing while excreting sticky honeydew that promotes damaging soot mold growth.

Agricultural PestSap-feedingInvasive
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySoybean Sap, Common Buckthorn Sap
Predators
  • Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle
  • Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
  • Green Lacewing
ThreatsInsecticide sprays, generalist predators, fungal pathogens
HabitatsAgricultural fields, cropland margins, buckthorn thickets
Life span1–4 weeks
Classification
  1. OrderHemiptera
  2. FamilyAphididae
  3. GenusAphis
  4. SpeciesAphis glycines
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Inspect leaf undersides: Look on young soybean foliage in early summer to spot small colonizing clusters.
  • Watch for sticky honeydew: Shiny residues on upper leaves often reveal aphid activity on leaves above.
  • Observe predator presence: Lady beetles and lacewing larvae near colonies indicate active natural control.
Related species
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