Resseliella maxima (Gagné) is a new midge species first confirmed in 2011, much is still unknown. Pupae overwinter in the top soil and emerge during spring as adults to lay eggs on the base of soybean plants. Usually after the V3 stage, larvae will begin to feed on the stem usually after the V3 stage.
Damage occurs along field edges close to ditch banks, shelter belts or adjacent to infested soybean fields from the previous year. Infested plants will have dark, swollen discolorations along the base of the stem, the plant eventually wilts & dies. Larvae color will have a distinct orange color at its 3rd instar and can be found inside infested stems.
Entomology experts still don’t know enough about the biology of Gall Midge and studies are on-going. As of today, seed treatments & foliar insecticides currently have no control. High infestation rates seem to correlate when a plant’s immune system is compromised by disease.