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PT_BR 
Dry conditions and intense heat can favor the spread of whiteflies in crops. soy In the 2026/27 growing season, this increases the need for monitoring from the early stages of the crop. The recommendation is to quickly identify the presence of the pest and carry out control measures before populations reach levels capable of causing significant losses.
According to researcher Germison Tomquelski, from the consulting firm Desafios Agro, the whitefly can cause losses of 10% to 70% in production, equivalent to about five to 30 sacks per hectare. Monitoring the crop should mainly consider the presence of the first nymphs on the leaflets, paying attention also to the pre-closing period of the soybean.
“It makes a big difference for the producer to be prepared, with specific products on hand, and to start treatment at the right time. Otherwise, they tend to lose a lot to the pest. Ideally, insecticides should be applied as soon as the first nymphs of the pest are present on the soybean leaflets, when there are two or three nymphs per leaflet. It is also important to observe the crop before canopy closure,” emphasizes the researcher.
The pest can promote the development of sooty mold, which impairs photosynthesis, and can also transmit viruses that reduce plant growth, grain weight, and harvest potential.
Tomquelski points out that buprofezin showed efficacy close to 80% in controlling whiteflies. The active ingredient acts primarily on the young forms of the insect and helps interrupt the pest's life cycle. The researcher also recommends that applications be defined according to the infestation level, without depending on the fungicide calendar. "This is a crucial issue for achieving efficiency and good results in controlling the pest," he concludes.
