Oviposition habitats of Psorophora columbiae in soybean fields of a Texas riceland agroecosystem.

Soil samples were collected over a 21/2-year period from microhabitats in fields planted to soybeans in Chambers County, TX, to study the oviposition behavior of Psorophora columbiae. An analysis of egg collection data gathered from the processing of 1,098 soil samples suggested that, during wet years, Ps. columbiae eggs tend to be scattered throughout soybean fields. During dry years, a greater abundance of eggs occur in the low areas of these types of fields. The data also suggested that oviposition by Ps. columbiae is concentrated in soil near the base of soybean plants rather than in open furrows between the rows of plants.