Soybean farmers in Illinois are being swarmed by black moths! A field crop entomologist with the University of Illinois confirmed the insect is an adult green clover worm.
Researchers say the bug feeds on soybean foliage, but not plant tissue. Thankfully, these pests do not pose a threat to the soybean crop at this stage. However, they are a pain as farmers are having to fight to keep them out of the combine.
Tony, a farmer from Pestoum, Illinois, said he has never seen anything quite like it. He tweeted out this video of the moths swarming all around the combine, saying the moth has been “thick” all day.
Never seen anything like that. They have been thick all day pic.twitter.com/3Xbdp70pKM
— Tony Stierwalt (@TStierwalt21) September 26, 2023
The pest is also popping up in Canada! Candian famer Calvin Penner tweeted this picture, asking if other farmers were dealing with the same thing. The shot shows the view outside the tractor, with the moth right on the wind shield.
Anyone else have these moths in their soys? pic.twitter.com/eliBMCRY7D
— Calvin Penner (@cwjp) September 14, 2023
While farmers push passed the pests and continue their harvest, it is unclear what kind of impact the bugs could have on the quality of the domestic soybean crop as well as these operation’s expensive machinery.
