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First Adult Emergence of 2026 Season Reported in NE
May 30th, 2026
The first soybean gall midge adult emergence of the 2026 season has been confirmed on May 29th at a monitoring site near Talmage in Otoe County, Nebraska, where a single adult male was collected (see emergence map below). At this time, no adult emergence has been detected in Iowa, South Dakota, or Minnesota.
Except for some soybean fields planted in April, most soybean fields are not yet at the V2 growth stage when stem fissures begin to form, and plants become susceptible to soybean gall midge infestation. Soybean prior to V2 are not susceptible to infestation.
Before considering an insecticide application, use the following checklist:
• Is the field adjacent to a soybean field with soybean gall midge pressure from the previous year?
• Are soybean plants at the V2 growth stage?
• Is adult emergence occurring in your area based on the emergence map and alerts?
If an application is being considered, use a product containing a pyrethroid active ingredient. Applications only need to target the field edge, generally within the first 60–100 feet of the field. However, insecticide efficacy for soybean gall midge management has been inconsistent across locations and years.
We will continue to provide emergence updates and monitor your local soybean growth stages as emergence continues.
Figure 2. Larvae in soybean petiole, soybean field with soybean gall midge injury, and stem infested with soybean gall midge.
Wilting and dead plants from soybean gall midge feeding in Lancaster County, NE. Photo taken on July 19th, 2024. Credit: Justin McMechan
White larvae found on soybean plants near Mead, NE on June 14th, 2023.
Photo taken by Justin McMechan.
Unmanned aerial vehicle photo of soybean gall midge injured field in Cass County, NE taken on August 26th, 2020.
Photo courtesy of Nick Tinsley (Bayer Crop Science)
White and orange larvae found on soybean near Mead, NE on June 19th, 2023
