Stamm, M. D.Heng-Moss, T. M.Baxendale, F. P.Reese, John C.Siegfried, B. D.Hunt, T. E.Gaussoin, R. E.Blankenship, E. E.2014-02-252014-02-252013-12-01http://hdl.handle.net/2097/17188Citation: Stamm, M., Heng-Moss, T., Baxendale, F., Reese, B., Sigfried, B., Hunt, T., Gaussoin, R., & Blankenship, E. (2013). Effects of Thiamethoxam Seed Treatments on Soybean Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Feeding Behavior. Journal of Economic Entomology, 106(6), 2384-2390. https://doi.org/10.1603/EC13268Since its discovery in North America in 2000, the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), has rapidly become an important pest of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill], sometimes resulting in significant yield losses. Previous research has documented the toxicity of neonicotinoid seed treatments to soybean aphids, but control under field conditions has been inconsistent. Imidacloprid, a popular neonicotinoid insecticide, has been shown to exhibit antifeedant effects on aphids. Antifeedant activity has not been demonstrated for other neonicotinoids, including thiamethoxam. This research investigated the effects of a thiamethoxam seed treatment on soybean aphid feeding behavior by using electronic penetration graphs (EPG) to visualize stylet penetration behavior. Soybean aphid feeding behavior was assessed for 9 h on thiamethoxam-treated and untreated soybeans (V2 and V4 stages). Because results were inconclusive from initial experiments, a study was conducted to document the effects of thiamethoxam-treated soybeans on soybean aphid survival. The seed treatment was shown to negatively affect aphid survival at 4, 8, and 11 d after aphid introduction. A subsequent EPG study then was designed to document soybean aphid feeding behavior for 15 h, after an initial exposure of 9 h to thiamethoxam-treated soybeans. In this study, the exposed aphids exhibited significant differences in feeding behavior compared with those aphids feeding on untreated soybeans. Soybean aphids on thiamethoxam-treated soybeans spent significantly less time feeding in the sieve element phase, with a greater duration of nonprobing events. These studies suggest soybean aphids are unable to ingest phloem sap, which may be another important element in seed treatment protection.en-USPermission to archive granted by Entomological Society of America, Jan. 21, 2014. This article is the copyright property of the Entomological Society of America and may not be used for any commercial or other private purpose without specific written permission of the Entomological Society of America.Soybean aphidThiamethoxamSeed treatmentElectronic penetration graphText