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Background An aggregation pheromone trap has been used for both monitoring and mass-capture of Riptortus pedestris (Fabricius) in soybean. As the trap's efficacy in reducing the pest population and crop damage is unknown, we evaluated it in small experimental soybean plots using both a before/after and with/without design, and also verified our findings in commercial soybean fields. Results In experimental plots, total numbers of R. pedestris on plants in the soybean plots were not affected by the trap installation until mid-August. Interestingly, the abundance of adult bugs increased (4.9-9.4 times higher) in September and October. However, compared with the counted bug population in soybean plots, the trap catch rate was low during the autumn period. In commercial fields, trap installation also did not reduce bug population from the field. Placement of traps in plots increased pod and seed damage by 2.7 and 2.2 times, respectively compared with the controls in experimental plots, although no such effect was observed in commercial fields. Conclusion Aggregation pheromone traps did not reduce R. pedestris populations in the field or soybean damage, and even led to an increase in the bug population during autumn. Therefore, traps should not be used as a control measure. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

An aggregation pheromone trap has been used for both monitoring and mass-capture of Riptortus pedestris (Fabricius) in soybean. As the trap's efficacy in reducing the pest population and crop damage is unknown, we evaluated it in small experimental soybean plots using both a before/after and with/without design, and also verified our findings in commercial soybean fields.In experimental plots, total numbers of R. pedestris on plants in the soybean plots were not affected by the trap installation until mid-August. Interestingly, the abundance of adult bugs increased (4.9-9.4 times higher) in September and October. However, compared with the counted bug population in soybean plots, the trap catch rate was low during the autumn period. In commercial fields, trap installation also did not reduce bug population from the field. Placement of traps in plots increased pod and seed damage by 2.7 and 2.2 times, respectively compared with the controls in experimental plots, although no such effect was observed in commercial fields.Aggregation pheromone traps did not reduce R. pedestris populations in the field or soybean damage, and even led to an increase in the bug population during autumn. Therefore, traps should not be used as a control measure. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.