Now is the time to look for alfalfa weevil in Central Missouri fields. Weevil larvae are small and hard to see. They do their first feeding hidden in the youngest, folded leaves at the top of infested plants. Do not confuse clover and alfalfa weevils. Clover weevils occur earlier, are larger, have brown spots on their back and a tan colored head.
Alfalfa weevils have a white strip down the center of their back and black heads.
The head color is the most important separating characteristic. Mild winter temperatures are a big contributing factor to high spring numbers. When the temperature is above 50 F, alfalfa weevil adults are active enough to lay eggs. There were 26 days when daily temperatures were above 50 F during December, January and February. This relatively high number of winter days favorable to egg laying certainly suggests a great potential for alfalfa weevil damage.