Sampling and management of aphidophagous natural enemies in Iowa soybean

In Iowa, surveys of natural enemies in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] conducted before the arrival of Aphis glycines Matsumara (Hemiptera: Aphididae) revealed several species that may contribute to the mortality of A. glycines. In 2004 and 2005, several sampling methods were investigated to determine if diversity of the natural enemy community in Iowa soybean has changed with the arrival of A. glycines. We hypothesized that the natural enemy community in soybean has changed with the introduction of A. glycines and that sampling methods would collect different species of natural enemies. Also, with the use of an alfalfa living mulch, we investigated the impact of natural enemies on A. glycines. We hypothesized that a living mulch would increase the abundance of the aphidophagous community in soybean and suppress A. glycines establishment and population growth