The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-06-27
INSECT DAMAGING
ALFALFA IN UTAH
State Agricultural College Sends
Out Bulletin Regarding
Matter.
PEST COMES FROM EUROPE
AND IS GREAT NUISANCE
Pointers Are Given on Best
Methods of Contending
With 1t.

Prof. Z, G. Titus, of the State Aan
cultural college, is sending out bulIe.
tins warning the farmers of the state
against a dangerous alfalfa insect which
is said to be creating a good deal Of
damage TO the crops at this time. II
is estimated that already many hundred
dollars worth Of damage has been done
TO the alfalfa crop alone, and unless
the pest IS stamped out the damage
will be greater,
The bulletin calls attention to the
| fact that Of the 10000 acres of lncerne
in Salt Lake county, at least nine
tenths Is now being injured by the al
| talfa leaf weevll. The insect comes
from Europe and in some years has
caused an INJURY so severe that it has
stopped the growing Of crops for q
number OF years. The coming Of the
insect is Of Importance because it feeds
not only on alfalfa but upon sweet
clover. yellow clover and red clover.
The bulletin says:
Since the first report in 1904 the In
sect has been gradually but slowly spread.
ing, until 1908. Last year there we're a
very large number OF the weevtls de-;
veloPed. and they spread the past wear
over large and extensive new territory
|
the Insect is in the weeviI or full grown
stage, when they pass from field to field
by walking, and at certain times in the
fan and spring, distribute themselves TO
q considerable distance by flying. Large
numbers OF the larvae or young OF the.
insect are carried on hay racks, from
the fields to the stacks and barns This
will account for 3. small amount OF dis
triontlon, since some of these are 80
nearly full grown that they do not need
10 feed longer before changing TO the
weevil stage.
Gradually Increasing
The bulletin deals at some length
with the life of the insect and the man
ner in which it carries on its work.
Careful directions are also given as to
the means of avoiding injury to crops
as far as possible and for eliminating
the pest from the fields.
The following brief summary pre-
pared by Prof. Titus explains in some
degree the method of preventing the
depredations of the insect and the care
winch should he exercised by farmers
whose crops are infected.
To Prevent Depredations.
The alfalfa leaf-weevil an introduced
European insect, Is now causing great
damage to lucerue in Salt Lake county,
or adult stage, but causes the most In
jury when IN the younger stages by feed
ing on the leaves, buds and flowers.
Egss are laid on alfalfa in April and
May. the larvae or worms becoming full
grown In the latter part of June and
throughout July. spinning a lace-like CO.
coon, from which later Issues the small
brown hard-shelled weevil. This weevll
hibcrnates through the winter In any
sheltered place; ditch banks. stacks, al
falfa plants, weeds, erc.
The first crop should be cut as early
as possible The ground disked and CROSS
disked as soon as the hay Is OFF and then
gone over with a leveller In the same
way. These operations Will kill a large
percentage OF the young worms. Then
sible and repeat the dislling and levellinE.
Clean up all ditch banks, fence rows.
old stack grounds and rubbish early in
the fall by burning.
Ship no hay out of infested region.