The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Alfalfa Weevil

(Phytonomus variabilis), a beetle of the family Curculionidae, injurious to alfalfa. The insect measures 4.5–6.5 mm and has a grayish brown body. The larvae, which reach a length of 9 mm, are green; their sides and back are covered with bristles. They pupate on plants. Alfalfa weevils are distributed in central and southern Europe, Asia (including southern regions), North America, and North Africa. The larvae cause most of the damage by eating alfalfa leaves and flowers, thereby reducing yields of hay and seeds.

Countermeasures include isolating new alfalfa plantings from old ones, disking and harrowing of soil in early spring, and spraying the alfalfa with insecticides during aftergrowth and the formation of buds.

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References in periodicals archive

Columbia, Missouri, to measure the concentration of Se in whole bodies of adult females from the 4 colonies, and in the alfalfa foliage, the alfalfa weevil larvae, the T.

Uptake of dietary selenium by laboratory and field feeding Podisus maculiventris (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

The Alfalfa weevil can be effectively controlled varieties are now available in the market and yields are increasing.

ALFALFAH AND OATS GROWING

Puttler, "Status of the alfalfa weevil biological control program in the Eastern United States," Journal of Economic Entomology, vol.

An ultrastructural and fluorescent study of the teratocytes of Microctonus aethiopoides loan (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from the hemocoel of host Alfalfa Weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Key words: Alfalfa, alfalfa weevil, insecticide spray time, malathion, crop yield, protein content of crop.

Effect of Malathion Applications at Different Times on the Alfalfa Weevil Population, Natural Enemies, Forage Yield and Protein Content

leaf beetles and alfalfa weevils in your field and garden.

Poor Will's Countryside Almanack for late spring & early summer of 2011

Examples of these beneficial insects are ladybird beetles that prey on aphids, and a stingless wasp (Microstomus aethipoides) that parasitizes and destroys the alfalfa weevil.

Chapter 15: Plant disease and insects

Effect of several biopesticides on Alfalfa weevil larvae, Hyper brunneipennis.

Larvicidal efficacy of Capsicum annum against Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus

Insecticides were applied as needed to control potato leafhopper (Empoasca fabae Harris) and alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica Gyllenhal).

Weed Invasion in New Stands of Alfalfa Seeded with Perennial Forage Grasses and an Oat Companion Crop

They can also kill parasites previously established by our lab that now control three other pests of alfalfa - the alfalfa weevil, pea aphid, and alfalfa blotch leafminer."

Imported wasps work well as biological controls

This method of conidial delivery was similar to that used by Hedlund & Pass (1968) on the alfalfa weevil. Insects were transferred to holding cages, based on gender, with 2 organically grown baby carrots and a cotton ball saturated with sterilized water.

A modified method to visualize infection sites of spores of the entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) on the exoskeleton of citrus root weevil Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) adults

Forage grasses decrease alfalfa weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) damage and larval numbers in alfalfa-grass intercrops.

Forage quality and alfalfa characteristics in binary mixtures of alfalfa and bromegrass or timothy

Some successes have been dramatic, including substantial control of at least five insect pests (cereal leaf beetle, Rhodesgrass mealybug, pea aphid, alfalfa blotch leafminer, alfalfa weevil) and three weeds (Klamath weed, alligatorweed, puncturevine).

Gotcha! Tiny lady beetles have big biocontrol potential