Show Early Treatment Urged for Control Of Alfalfa Weevil Early spring treatment of al alfalfa alfalfa alfalfa al- al falfa for weevil control has hns proved to be a most effective method and is being recommended recommended recommended ded to growers states Frank V. V Lieberman entomologist at the U. U S. S Legume Seed Laboratory at Logan and an authority on alfalfa weevil control A new method for early treatment has been developed by entomologists entomologists entomologists at the laboratory Whether the field is used for forhay forhay 1 hay or seed or hay followed by seed early spring spraying is an outstanding method of weevil control Mr 1 Lieberman stated continuing Crop protection is excellent with this method Its It's the kind of protection from alfalfa weevil weevil weevil wee wee- vil that seed growers need It also frees hay growers from concern over poisonous residues or rigid cutting schedules Early spring treatment will prevent retardation of the second crop as well as damage to the first firs growth Treatment Recommended The treatment recommended by Mr Lieberman is spraying I Ithe the field with Chlordane or Its purpose is to kill kil most of the adults that have in the field and to do it before the females have opportunity to lay many eggs The spray should be applied when the shoots of the first firs growth are from one to two inches long Usually this means means mean between March larch 15 and April 15 depending on the season and the locality according to Mr 1 Lie Lie- berman The spray spra should contain contain contain con con- tain one and one half to two pounds of technical chlordane or one fourth pound of technical technical technical cal per acre When ap applied applied applied ap- ap plied by ground sprayers a aleast at least six to eight gallons of water water water wa wa- ter should b be used There are indications however continued ed Mr 1 Lieberman that use of more water that is 15 to 20 gallons will give better re re- re Dusting has not given satisfactory results and is not recommended As areas of the ther f ld d b h d r ec t s ra hi IU II ie ss y n p y g I will will not be protected proper guiding of all equipment is ad ad- ad Choose a quiet day when the maximum temperature is expected to be about 60 degrees in order to obtain best results Dont Don't DeIa Delay Too Long Many growers who have al already already already al- al ready tried this latest method of weevil control delayed it past the recommended time Such delay will usually result in failure failure fail fail- ure Ule to prevent pre crop damage de despite despite despite de- de spite the fact that a check of ofa a treated field will win show most of the adult weevil were killed warned the entomologist In such cases the weevil were killed killed killed kill kill- ed too late This mistake will generally be avoided if the egg- egg laying habits of the alfalfa weevil weevil weevil wee wee- vil arc are understood As a general rule a few of the females which have ed the winter begin to lay eggs soon after the snow cover covel melts in the spring Mr 11 Li Lieberman berman explained At this time there is no growth on the field For Forthe Forthe Forthe the next few weeks more and more females become sexually mature and begin to lay eggs At first these are laid only in of dead stems on the ground After the spring growth is six inches tall the beetles gradually shift t their egg laying to the growing stems Nevertheless Nevertheless Nevertheless Never Never- most of the eggs are laid in dead stems and the number number number num num- ber laid increases rapidly after the alfalfa shoots are two inches inch inch- es long T The Therefore h e r ref e f o 0 r e Mr Air Lieberman points out when early spring spraying is delayed even a short time the beetles usually succeed sue suc coed in laying enough eggs to Continued on Pa Page Paie e 5 EARLY TREATMENT URGED FOR CONTROL OF ALFALFA WEEVIL Continued from page 1 assure later crop damage by the larvae Only Two Chemicals Recommended Early spring spraying to kill the adult weevil is a new recommendation recommendation recommendation rec rec- and a high kill is required Mr 11 Lieberman continues con con- Few insecticides s will kill enough adult weevil at this time of year ear to make the method work Of these only chlordane and have been tested sufficiently to be recommended Any Farmer Can Control Any grower can control the alfalfa weevil in his own fields with out cooperation from his neighbors Mr Lieberman states This is possible because most of the adults do not leave the field in which the they are ed Instead they spend the winter there and lay their eggs in the same field the following spring Therefore large infestations infestations infestations on nearby fields have little or no effect on the farmers farmer's farmers farmer's farmers farmer's far far- mers mer's own field However unless unless unless un un- less the early spring treatment is properly timed failure may occur warned the entomologist |