If natural reseeding of clover is desired, scout for this insect when the clover is between 50 percent bloomed to fully bloomed. Spray late in the day to avoid unnecessary hazard to pollinating insects. In order to comply with grazing and harvest restrictions, cattle must be removed. The adult lays eggs inside the developing seedpod. Eggs hatch into plump, white, legless grubs with brown heads.
Grubs move from seed to seed within the pod, where they are protected from insecticides.
This insect is controlled in the adult stage. These recommendations are for seed production fields. In pastures, the tolerance for this insect should be much higher, and treatment may not be justified. Imported fire ants may feed on clover and alfalfa seeds. In most cases, the amount of seed they consume is not enough to make control economically feasible.