Show ALFALFA INSECT IS ISTO DANGEROUS TO CROP Fly Is Principal Cause of 01 Blighted Seed Damage Is Especially Severe In Cal Cal- and States on Pacific Slope of Rocky Mountains Mountains Basis Basis of Control Work Prepared by the tho United States Department Department Department Depart Depart- ment of ot Agriculture The alfalfa seed alfalfa seed fly an Insect the size of a gnat Is the principal cause of blighted alfalfa seed Its range covers practically the whole of the United States While Its ravages extend to clover and bur clover the largest damage Is done llone to alfalfa seed Damage occurs wherever an alfalfa seed sell crop Is n grO grown brown but Is especially severe le in California and the states on the Pacific slope slop of the nOC Rocky moun moun- talus The fi fly deposits its eggs through the seed feed pod poll directly Into the green seed where the larva Is hatched hatch hatch- ed and grows to maturity All changes both larval al and are Ule effected Inside Inside inside In In- side the seed The adult Insect emerges through a n hole cut at one end of the seed leaving only a hollow shell The egg of the clu n fly Is so small as us to be he Invisible to the naked e eye eI e Even Kven I tn the presence of ot the living larva lar In the seed l is hard to detect except by lIy opening lI the seeds and examining them under a It microscope There ere is modification however of t the e hupe of or the seed beed In which larvae lanae are aref f feeding The color also is likely to tolie he lie darker flader and the surface less glossy The basis of or control work Is to at al allow ale a- t low lo lono no seed pods to develop anywhere tho those e of the regular seed crop mill to leave e no Infested pods In fields or fIl around stocks stacks s lit In which the larva or pupa may |