During my master’s degree in Entomology at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, I investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics of soybean gall midge (Resseliella maxima Gagné) in the soil. My work focused on understanding how this emerging pest develops and persists belowground to improve monitoring and management strategies.

Soybean gall midge is a relatively recent but economically significant soybean pest in the Midwestern United States. Since its discovery, it has spread across multiple states, causing substantial yield losses and posing an increasing challenge for growers.

Because much of its life cycle occurs in the soil, key aspects of its biology remain poorly understood. This knowledge gap makes it difficult to predict outbreaks and develop effective control strategies, underscoring the importance of studying its distribution and behavior belowground.

Through this research, we achieved four key objectives related to soybean gall midge ecology in the soil.

We characterized the depth distribution of overwintering immature stages in the soil profile, examined their spatial and temporal patterns throughout the growing season, tracked their redistribution in the soil over time, and mapped their horizontal distribution using high-resolution grid sampling. Together, these findings provide a more complete picture of soybean gall midge ecology and offer practical insights to support its management.