OCR Text |
Show ENTOMOLOGY Edited by Prof. E. G. Titus, State Agricultural College. THE ALFALFA-LEAF WEEVIL. II. Remedies. No very satisfactory means of handling the insect has yet been discovered. dis-covered. However, there are several means of holding it in check and of limiting the spread of the weevil. Different Dif-ferent conditions will require different treatment. Burning over fields late in the fall before it is cold cnougli to cause the weevil to go into hibernation 'will kill a large number. In the spring, the alfalfa, should be cut as soon as the earliest larvae arc seen' and thus many eggs will be destroyed de-stroyed and m!any larvae die from lack of food. V Scattering straw over small fields " early in the spring and burning them m , off will effectually care for many of the insects. Burning up the first crop by cutting early and 'scattering straw over it will be found of considerable value. The alfalfa quickly recovers and grows rapidly, having practically no weevils to ibothcr It. (Plowing up seriously infested fields in May or early June when the crop of larvae arc at their height is, I be licve, the -surest way to rid a field of the pest; It means the death of practically prac-tically every larvae in the field and many weevils. Flooding has in one instance been found of use when- donelimmcdiatcly after the first cutting is off the field. Going over the field just before this with a rake will dislodge many larvae. The old story of cleaning up the fence-rows and ditch-banks was never more applicable than right here. Such places as these afford hibernation quarters for many other insects than fl this one. It should be remembered I that the alfalfa-leaf weevil is now I ' turning its attention to sweet clover I and wjll also feed upon red clover. I If the roadsides were well cleaned' up and burnt off, the sweet clover kept I down along with the other weeds, it I would materially aid the farmer ii M controlling the weevil. I Care will also need to be taken that 9 the weevil is not sent out of the re- m gion at present infested, Jhejre- are w manyiwnyswhich will be readily seen in which this unfortunate thing might happen. Horned toads', lizards or swifts, and. the common garden toad all feed -upon the weevil and doubtless small birds and other small animals will pick them up at times. But the numbers num-bers of these enemies are small and can scarcely be considered in the matter of control. |