Soybean loopers are a migratory pest we sometimes see in late-season growth stages.

Looper numbers have really picked up in our research plots in the Sandhills region of the state and we’ve picked up more and more in the Blacklands.

Remember, the threshold for soybean loopers (and all defoliating pests) is 15 percent defoliation throughout the canopy. Loopers generally defoliate from the bottom of the canopy up, so peel back those plants when you scout.

Although pyrethroids will knock loopers back initially, they will often resurge, because they are tolerant to these chemicals and because natural enemies are removed. My top choices for soybean looper are Belt, Prevathon and Steward.

There are pre-mix products that will also work, such as Besiege, but these should only be used if you need the non-worm portion of the pre-mix (such as stink bugs or kudzu bugs at threshold).

Remember that you want to preserve natural enemies if possible. Tracer/Blackhawk and Intrepid are also good effective chemicals for loopers.

          More from Southeast Farm Press

Flax making inroads in North Carolina

Here are some pigweed control options following Tennessee corn harvest

South Carolina counties get disaster relief

Control pesky pasture weeds with timely mowing, herbicides