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EVALUATING THE EFFECTS OF HARVESTING ALFALFA ON ALFALFA WEEVIL (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE) AND PARASITE POPULATIONS IN MICHIGAN1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Richard A. Casagrande  and
Frederick W. Stehr
Richard A. Casagrande
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
Frederick W. Stehr
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
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Abstract

The alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal), first found in Michigan in 1966, caused considerable damage to alfalfa throughout the state by 1971. In contrast to more southern regions, the alfalfa weevil lays very few eggs in the fall in Michigan. As a result, most eggs and larvae are present when the fields are ready for cutting in the spring.

Different cutting dates were evaluated to determine the effects of cutting on populations of the alfalfa weevil, its primary parasite in Michigan, Bathyplectes curculionis (Thomson), and damage to the crop. Cutting at 507 degree-days (base 48°F (8.9 °C)) caused a 79% reduction in the number of alfalfa weevils produced and a 57% reduction of B. curculionis, while almost eliminating crop damage. Cutting at earlier and later times caused different reductions in populations of both insects and different crop damage.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 105 , Issue 8 , August 1973 , pp. 1119 - 1128
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1973

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