What does alfalfa weevil damage look like?
As the larvae grow, they chew larger holes, giving the plants a shredded or skeletonized appearance. A heavy infestation of larvae can consume enough foliage that an entire field may take on a grayish appearance. Adult weevil feeding damage is usually minor, taking the form of small, circular cuts along leaf margins.
How do you identify alfalfa weevil?
Identification
- Adult: Adult alfalfa weevils are approximately ¼ inch long beetles with a blunt “snout,” thick golden hairs covering the body, and a distinct dark, narrow stripe down the back (Photo 1).
- Egg: Eggs are yellow and oval and can be found inside alfalfa stems (Photo 2).
How do I get rid of alfalfa weevil?
Whenever possible, harvest the first cut early for hay or silage. If the field is within 10 days of a normal harvest, cut the crop for alfalfa weevil control. Harvest the alfalfa field before the fourth-stage larvae can cause damage.
What causes weevils in alfalfa?
An alfalfa weevil-specific fungus occurs in many alfalfa-growing regions in California that aids in biological control. In fields with sustained moisture, this soil-dwelling fungus (Zoophthora phytonomi) sporulates and infects the larval stage, causing death of weevil larvae within days of infection.
What can I spray on alfalfa for bugs?
INSECTS: Insecticides for alfalfa often have between 7 and 21 days they must be on before harvest. Between cuttings is a great time for insecticide applications to eliminate the bugs that can slow re-growth and limit your yield. 1 pint of Lorsban is highly effective on nearly all insect pests of alfalfa.
What is eating my alfalfa?
Foliage-feeding caterpillars. Larvae of the alfalfa caterpillar, several armyworm species, the corn earworm, and webworms feed on the tender stems and leaves of alfalfa.
Do alfalfa weevils overwinter?
Alfalfa Weevil Life Cycle Most alfalfa weevils overwinter as adults, become active as temperatures increase, and lay eggs. Some may lay eggs in the stem during fall and, if winter is not too severe, will successfully overwinter.
What do alfalfa weevil eat?
Both the alfalfa and clover leaf weevils feed on first cutting alfalfa as larvae, and regrowth after the first cutting as adults (and sometimes larvae).
Are weevils harmful to horses?
Weevils like darkness and they hide when exposed to light. She said that most bugs like weevils are not really a health risk for the horse, but if weevils are allowed to remain in the feed for a length of time, they damage the feed and reduce its nutritional value.
Do weevils eat hay?
Weevils are key pests of alfalfa, causing yield and quality losses mainly to the first alfalfa hay cutting. The alfalfa weevil complex includes the Western, Egyptian, and Eastern strains that are all likely the same species (Hypera postica). Each year, growers throughout the country deal with this devastating pest.
Do weevils live in hay?
How do you scout alfalfa weevil?
Beginning in mid-May, producers should scout their alfalfa fields for signs of alfalfa weevil chewing and skeletonizing leaves. Sweep nets should be used early to detect adults, and then begin larval scouting. Sample 20 stems in five different locations of the field and look for feeding damage and larvae.
When was the boll weevil eradicated?
As of 1994, boll weevils had been eradicated from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, California, Arizona and parts of Alabama.
How quickly do weevils spread?
The damaging effects of weevils are largely due to their ability to reproduce quickly and then spread throughout the crops in a matter of days. Female weevils deposit eggs in the beds of the plants and can lay as many as 200 eggs during their lifespan.
Do weevils carry disease?
Rice and granary weevils are harmless to people, houses, furniture, clothing and pets. They cannot bite or sting and they do not carry diseases. They will not feed on furniture, the house structure or other items. The harm they do is destruction of the seeds they infest and the annoyance of being in the wrong place.
How do I get rid of weevils in my horses feed?
Dr. Davison says that if you see weevils in a bag of feed, you can open it up or expose it to sunlight, and within a couple of hours the weevils will all be gone.
What animal is eating my alfalfa?
Deer, elk, antelope, gophers, mice, and rabbits eat the alfalfa.
How did farmers get rid of boll weevils?
Farmers used three types of insecticide applications during the cotton-growing season to reduce boll weevil populations. The first two types reduced populations during the growing season; the third reduced populations going into wintering habitat.
How do weevils get started?
Weevils usually infest grains and starches like rice, flour, pasta, and cereals. Weevil infestations that start outside may be the result of fruit trees or gardens, which are also food sources. The insects often gather on the sides of homes and move into cracks and gaps that lead inside.