Pathogens One example of a pathogenic organism that occasionally affects alfalfa weevil populations is a fungus, Erynia spp. This fungus was first reported in Oklahoma in 1983. When wet weather occurs during April, this disease often kills large numbers of alfalfa weevil larvae. If conditions are dry, the disease does not develop. Bumble bees are the largest of these with length ranging from one-half to one inch and a dense covering of black and yellow or orange hairs over the body.
Honey bees are somewhat smaller in size with light orange or tan and black coloration.
The body is black with white hairs covering most parts. There are four or five bands of white hairs across the abdomen. With exception of those producers who place honey bee colonies in fields, most rely on native populations of bees for pollination. Since adequate pollination is essential for high seed yields, populations of these bees must be preserved. Applications of insecticides should be made before bloom to avoid killing pollinators.