Put double-coverage control on aphids this season

Author: Corteva Agriscience

Defensive football coaches often apply double coverage to manage hard-to-stop wide receivers. That same type of strategy can be used by corn growers to protect their annual crop investment from a range of pests, such as the two-spotted spider mite, adult corn earworm and pyrethroid-resistant soybean aphids.

Soybean aphids can migrate more than 100 miles and often arrive in high numbers from neighboring states. When ambient temperatures reach the low 80s, soybean aphid reproductive activity increases, often doubling population numbers in five to seven days.

In corn production regions where soybean aphid overwintering mortality rates were low due to above-average winter temperatures, corn farmers should be on the lookout for increased populations of this economically damaging pest.

“My advice is to always be vigilant with scouting starting around the end of July and into the middle of August,” said Ron Geis, market development specialist, Corteva Agriscience. “Insecticidal seed treatments on average can lose efficacy about 40 days after planting, and it’s important to maintain a strong level of crop protection with an effective insecticide.

If soybean aphids reached threshold levels on your farm in 2025, rely on Ridgeback ® insecticide with Isoclast ® active to bring broad-spectrum control. It delivers double coverage with two modes of action (Group 3A and Group 4C) and is labeled to control a range of insect pests that can reduce corn plant health and yield potential.

“Ridgeback insecticide targets pests two ways — on contact and through ingestion,” Geis said. “It has excellent translaminar movement through the leaves, so it provides activity on insect pests outside of the direct line of spray. It also has a short, 18-day preharvest interval and is a great fit for use in Integrated Pest Management programs.”

Soybean yield losses from invertebrate pests

Findings from a 2024 study conducted by entomologists across 19 states estimate invertebrate pests caused 2.8 billion bushels of lost soybean yield in 2024. 1 This staggering figure underscores the importance of managing the various species of these economically damaging pests.

From soybean loopers and fall armyworms to corn earworms (podworms), when it comes to control, you can be confident applying Intrepid Edge ® insecticide. An application rate of 4 to 6.4 ounces per acre provides fast knockdown and lasting residual control.

“With more occurrences of diamides, in general, showing less efficacy, I still recommend Intrepid Edge insecticide for reliable control of late-season loopers,” said Jared Walls, market development specialist, Corteva Agriscience. “Because it is labeled to control tough insect pests in a broad range of crops, Intrepid Edge insecticide is a versatile product.

To learn more about Ridgeback insecticide and Intrepid Edge insecticide or the complete portfolio of Corteva Agriscience crop protection solutions, visit Corteva.com/us or talk with your local Corteva Agriscience sales representative.

1 U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2026. US farmers expect to plant less corn and more soybean acres. https://www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/2026/03-31-2026.php

Legals:

™ ®  Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. Intrepid Edge ®  and Ridgeback ® are not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Isoclast ® is a registered active ingredient. Always read and follow label directions. ©2026 Corteva.  036349  BR (06/26)  CAAG26CPRO01287-01