The soybean gall midge came to Iowa last year, settling into western counties, along with Nebraska and parts of South Dakota and Minnesota; and it’s returned this year for a repeat performance.

The soybean gall midge, in its adult form, is a fly that looks like a small mosquito. It lays its eggs at the base of the soybean plant. The distinctive bright orange larvae then feed on the stem, making the plant brittle and causing it to break off at the base.

Farmers with an infestation will first notice a brown...