Show I INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION TION JIO DISCLOSES 1 PRESENT IN ALFALFA entomologist Mr 11 Kay Kar entomologist a graduate from the School of Science In Japan has made an ind Independent investigation in this area urea of oC the relationship relationship relationship rela rela- between alfalfa and alfalfa seed setting which we are very glad to set before our readers Mr has labored unceasingly unceasing unceasing- ly for for- two for two seasons in this area and we quote from his report report report- I have initiated an experimental work which began Iegan in 1928 at that tI time e I did not know the presence of so ral Hal references on th the subject of A few days ago I found references references references ref ref- from Crom which the following citations cl ci- are mostly made Most of the seed growers in this area are familiar with a tiny cream colored insect which congregates numerously upon alfalfa flowers throughout the season That insect Is technical name iella This tiny insect reduces alfalfa seed production production pro pro- in two ways The Tho most severe severe severe se se- se- se vere loses are caused by the great decrease in bloom production due to the feeding of the insect on r the unopened buds causing dead elead blasted buds Lesser losses are caused by bythe bythe the he feeding of the insect on the ovaries ovaries ov ov- ov- ov aries iries of ot the opened flowers or or the young seed pods causing stripping of f flowers or reducing reducing t ing ng the number of seeds in pods f fIn In addition to the two ways abovementioned above abovementioned abovementioned mentioned further damage is done donet t to o t the e alfalfa pl plant nt by punctures also feeding upon the vegetative part of oC the plant which greatly weakens weal s' s the plant itself and nd thus indirectly h has lS a deleterious I influence upon seed production r rAn An experiment conducted di in Alberta Al Al- AlI I berta helta showed that over 80 of df f buds hurls produced reduced were were blasted Only 60 1 of f the flowers set t to seed with an an average of 34 seeds per per pod from V the he plants plants' caged together with the insect whereas there was 1 00 setting Betting with an average of ot 6 seeds per pod from plants confined in n cages from which the IJ were vere excluded In both cases the t blosom was artificially tripped t My own experimental observations I rainy agreed to the above t t In connection as to a controlling measure a specialist has recommended recommended mended an early before the hatching patching of oC the eggs of ot the first f brood good In the spring This period under ender the local condition is not yet It Its s exactly found round at least to me but I I suppose probably not after aCter late May f ITlie I 1 The family in general Is la I I I well veil known to cause the stripping of f various kinds of flowers pear on pears Florida flower I and citrus on citrus plants slants are outstanding examples i The he damage on alfalfa seed production production pro pro- caused by alfalfa or r some allied species ies has been reported reported re re- reI I ported from California Arizona J Montana and Alberta This alfalfa I 1 has recently become prevalent prevalent preva preva- I 1 lent ent and is known to have ca caused sed pansy pans spot on apples grapes and f tomatoes in the tho Pacific Northwest and nd in British Columbia Several I kinds dads of have been reported I present resent present on alfalfa flowers but under I the I II is the he local condition It mainly I above- above abovementioned mentioned alfalfa occidental de C On the other othor hand tho the family amily in general is also well known to o bo be beneficial as a pollen c carrier i 1 if f C various kinds of flon vers flo ers and I suppose this alfalfa may not note be e exceptional from the family's gen geu- ral habit It Is la especially true because be be- because because cause alfalfa flowers can set more need pods when cross pollinated I And r 1 also suppose tripping is is more more or less indebted to tho the activity of oC the tho present It is my present present pres pres- pres-I pres ent ant opinion that the activity of the will result either beneficial or injurious depending upon the number present upon the flowers and I am hoping to obtain an answer answer answer an an- to this query from experiment L al work in the future Yours very truly I Kay pub pub- publish We are aro vo Oj J 1 1 2 indeed nd Cd to pub publish lish the tho foregoing and hope that continued experimental work will re- re I |