Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-06-03
ALFALFA ENDANGERED.

A ride through the southern part OF
salt Lake county, reveals many OF the
alfalfa fields swept. as by fire, from the
ravases Of the alfalfa weevil
This new pest, whose depredations
already approach hundreds OF thous-
sands OF dollars in value, was prob
ably introduced from France or Ger
many in hay used for the packing OF
goods
According 20 DR.. Ball OF the Utah
Experiment station, attention was first
called to the presence OF this pest
about two years ago and investigation
az that time showed that II has al
ready become seriously injurious In
considerable district SOUTH OF salt
Lake and then spreading in all direc-
lions
From the testimony OF the alfalfa
raisers. It has apparently only been
observed for year or so previous to
that time. but no doubt has been In
the country for number OF years. as
an insect pest Of this kind spreads
very slowly for the first few years AZ
IL gradually increases in numbers ana
becomes distributed along highways
railroads, and car lines its spread be-
comes much more rapid and IL is like
" 10 appear in districts at consider
able distances from the original point
OF infestatlon. This is apparently
what il happening at the present time.
The Investigations OF Prof. Titus this
spring show that the insect Is now
thoroughly distributed over Salt Lake
county and is rapidly spreading north
ward around the point Of the noun
tain into Davis county. In the same
way il has passed tho Jordan Mar
rows and has firm foothold in the
upper end of Utah valley, with SER
ious but isolated outbreak in summit
county.
At this time OF the year the alfalfa
where badly injured Is very short and
stunted. and all OF the upper leaves
are White where the insects have eaten
off the green parts and left nothing but
the membrane. Thousands of acres In
Salt Lake valley. as you look across
them, now have a silvery white APP
pearance instead OF the rich green that
an alfalfa field should have.
Tho Government at Washington has
sent Prof. Webster TO Investigate the
situation. He finds that this weevil
now imperlls the entire alfalfa In
dustry the greatest wealth producer
on the farms of the West-and that
the Government should be asked to CO.
operate with this state in trying to
control or to oxtermlnate the pest.
We learn from the Logan Republican
that Prof. Titus will devote practically
his entire time TO the study Of this In
sect during the summer. Prof. Webster
made arrangements 10 have Mr..
Ainslie. his assistant spend his time
here also, and the experiment station
will place still another man in the field.
II was expected that a special appro-
priation would be made by the state
for tho carrying on OF this work, but
II was found impossible on legal
grounds, so the entire burden will fan
upon the experiment station.
The entomologlsts recommend that
a close watch be kept by alfalfa grow
crs in every section of the state to see
that this pest does not break out In
their fields. II is a small, hard shelled,
grayish brown bug. about one-third to
one-half the size OF "a pea, quite ac-
tive during warm weather. The adult
insect lives over winter and com
mences to feed on the alfalfa as soon
as II starts IN the spring. As soon as
II warns up II lays eggs which hatch
out into little yellow OF green worms.
which ARE larger In the middle and
usually curved. These feed on the tips
OF the alfalfa, stunning IL and pre-
venting it's growth. When fun grown,
they drop 10 the ground and spin a
little white gauzy cocoon among the
leaves, at the base Of the plant.