Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Those Bugs are Soy Aphids

All those nasty swarming bugs we've had around the last few weeks are not gnats...they are soy aphids. With the late soybean planting and cooler summer temperatures, we have a bumper crop of these buggers right now. Here is a short story from the local newspaper about the aphids ("Bothersome Soybean Aphids Here to Stay for Now"). And another story from the local University paper ("Don't Call Them Gnats").

Call 'em gnats or soy aphids, they are a real nuisance while running on the trails. Heck, they are an annoyance just walking around. Apparently they won't be gone until we have a good frost or the soybeans are harvested. They aren't as bad in the early cool mornings...that's when I'm running!

1 comment:

Heidi E. Carpenter said...

Whatever they are, they fly up my nose and down my throat. And into my eyes. Jolly good times!