The regulatory role of entomophages in reducing the abundance of major pests in soybean crops

The aim of the research was to study the species composition and trophic specialization of entomophages to regulate the number of major soybean pests. The research was carried out in 2023–2024 in Krasnodar on soybean varieties Vita and Grant (2 ha), as well as in the Dinskoy (10 ha) and Korenovsky districts (15 ha) on varieties Vilana, Vilana Beta, and Veda, in farms practicing environmentally sound plant protection systems. The biopesticide Akkar, Zh (4 l/ha) was applied twice against the cotton bollworm and the acacia moth at 10-day intervals. To account for the species composition and abundance of insects were conducted, mowing with entomological nets of various modifications, setting Malaise traps, and for accounting of parasites were used cocoons, pupae, imagos and eggs of host insects, which were set in semi-isolated containers. The species composition of the dominant pests and their complex of entomophages on soybean crops has been established. The parasite complex of owlet moths on soybean was represented by 43 species of the following families: Ichneumonidae, Bethylidae, Braconidae, Encyrtidae, Elasmidae, Eupelmidae, Eulophidae, Pteromalidae, Torymidae, Trichogrammatidae. 7 species of the Coccinellidae family were found on soybean crops, where 6 species are entomophages and 1 species is mycophage. The main species of parasitic hymenoptera have been identified, the trophic relationships of which are associated with pulse pod borer moth (E. zinckenella) at various preimaginal stages of its development. Two native parasitic Hymenoptera P. cassidae and A. cassidae identified in soybean crops showed to be effective against adventitious species of stink bugs H. halys and N. viridula.

Soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), entomophages, parasites, trophic relationships, pest management