Show ALFALFA WEEVIL the alfalfa leaf I 1 Ts a small oval oral brown snout beetle about 3 16 of 0 an inch long that Is attacking alfalfa in utah it is not a native species hut but has come to utah from europe it feeds on on plants belonging to the alfalfa family family injuring all parts of the plant above ground th the eggs are laid in the spring and early summer in the stems or on the buds and leaves and hatch batch in about ten days the young or larvae are small alfalfa green worms with a black head they never become much more than one quarter inch in length nhen ft hen full grown they feed on and in the leaf buds in the stalks and on the leaves the larvae have no true legs and have the habit ot of feeding or resting in a curled position when full grown about fifty to sixty I 1 days after hatching they go to the ground and spin around them a lace cocoon in which in about fourteen days they have turned into the full grown hard shelled adult this adult feeds on the stems leases es and buds for several weeks and in august goes into hibernation tor for the winter seeking any well sheltered place the insect now occurs in salt lake davis weber morgan summit wasatch utah and tooele counties and threatens to eventually reach all our alfalfa growing regions it spreads rapidly in the adult or beetle stage ty by lying flying in spring arid and summer and by being carried with articles shipped from an infested region and on railroads in wagons and automobiles traveling through the places where it occurs it is recommended that alfalfa be disked in early spring to stimulate it to better growth that the first growth be cut when the most of the eggs have been laid middle ot may and then brush drag the field thoroughly sheep may be pastured on the fields at this time for two weeks and alfalfa then watered and a good crop will usually be assured gathering machines to capture the larvae and beetles have given good results when used on the fields at the time the insects are most numerous fields should be brush dragged again after the first crop has been cut all weeds and rubbish should be cle cleaned aried from fields yards ditches and fence rows so that there will be less opportunity for the weevils to find winter shelter alfalfa should not be allowed to EO grow more than seven or eight years in infested districts |