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 Alfalfa Weevil Control
Description: Alfalfa weevil adults and larvae feed on the growing tips, leaves, and buds of alfalfa, lowering its value as a hay crop or preventing profitable production of seed. The insect is essentially a pest of first growth alfalfa, but the second growth is also attacked. The alfalfa weevil (3/16 inch long) is a small, brown, snout-nosed beetle with faint lighter markings. The larvae (3/8 inch long) is green with a black head and a white stripe down its back.
Life Cycle: Alfalfa weevils overwinter as adults in protected areas outside of fields. Some eggs are laid in the fall, but most are deposited in the spring when weevils re-enter fields. The female weevil chews a hole into the alfalfa stem and deposits a mass of eggs. Young larvae emerge in 7-14 days and molt or shed their skins three times, growing at each molt. After feeding for 14-21 days, mature larvae move to the base of the plant and pupate. Adults emerge 7-14 days later. One generation per year, but in some areas a partial second generation develops.
Alfalfa Weevil Control: To minimize alfalfa weevil damage consider planting tolerant or resistant varieties, maintaining a dense vigorous stand, cutting the first and second hay crops when most plants are in the bud stage, mowing the field clean, and removing the hay as soon as cured. Ladybugs, lacewing, and the minute pirate bug are all effective natural predators of the alfalfa weevil. Botanical insecticides should be considered when 25 larvae per net sweep or 2 larvae per stem can be seen without touching the plant and 50-75% of the leaves show feeding injury.
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