State Ag officials say Asian bugs that could do serious damage to soybean crops are confirmed in Iowa. The soybean aphid is a native of China. An extensive search in Iowa’s eastern half over the past two weeks finds at least 45 counties infested or presumed infested with aphids. John Haanstad is the Iowa Ag Department’s state entomologist. He led the survey across eastern Iowa that confirms the bugs’ presence on soybean crops in almost half of the state’s counties. Haanstad says the insect has not yet taken a strong hold in the Hawkeye State.The aphids were found as far west as Hancock County and in dozens of eastern counties, roughly east of a line from Mason City to Ames and south all the way to Keokuk. Haanstad says there is a possibility the aphid population could be damaged by the harsh winters in Iowa.
