The pest known as the kudzu bug, indigenous to the Eastern Hemisphere, made its way to Georgia in 2009. By 2012, seven additional southeastern U.S. states were infested: South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Virginia, Florida, Mississippi and Tennessee. Typically, two generations of kudzu bugs develop from egg to adult every year; and one of their favorite hosts is soybeans. Although these pests are known to cause an average soybean yield loss of 20 percent if left untreated, they appear to be susceptible to a variety of insecticide chemistries, including pyrethroids. Read more to learn about the kudzu bug’s life stages and cycles, distribution and management to ensure higher yields for your soybeans.