Alfalfa weevils cause much loss prior to the first cutting every year, whether from actual defoliation due to feeding, the cost of control to mitigate that feeding loss, or both. However, this voracious feeding period occurs only in the spring and, thankfully, seems pretty much done for this year. Figure 1 shows an alfalfa weevil pupa inside its little silken enclosure, which means larval feeding is finished for this weevil. The vast majority of weevils are pupating or are just emerging as adults.
Figure 2 shows two small lady beetle larvae, which are now very common throughout most alfalfa fields and should help control pea aphids and/or potato leafhoppers, hopefully until the alfalfa gets a little regrowth. No potato leafhoppers have been detected in North Central Kansas, yet, but they will soon be migrating back into the state.
Figure 1. Alfalfa weevil pupa inside silken enclosure. Photo by Cody Wyckoff, K-State Research and Extension.
Figure 2: Lady beetle larvae. Photo by Cody Wyckoff, K-State Research and Extension.
Jeff Whitworth, Extension Entomology Specialist
jwhitwor@ksu.edu