The Delta independent., 1917-08-03
Alfalfa WeeVil Is
In Delta County

The alfalfa weevil has been intro
duced and becomes established in the
vicinity of Paonia. How it was brought
in. no one can say with any degree
of certainty. While the infested area
seems not to be very large. it is too
extensive to make it seem at all likely
that the weevil can now be eradicated,
even though government aid should be
secured. The matter has been taken
nm with the bureau of entomology for
the purpose of determining what assis-
tance, If any, can be given.
Ny chief objects in writing this ar
ticle for publication are, to inform the
residents outside the infested district
of the presence of the weevil, and to
ask them TO observe strictly the regu-
iations that are necessary to lessen the
liability and rapidity of its spread to
outlying sections, and especially to the
portions OF the valley below Paonia-
Without waiting for definite quaran-
tine regulations. which may be an
nounced later, the following rules
should be followed strictly, and. If
necessary. enforced through police
regulations;
1. No alfalfa hay. in any form
should be allowed to go out Of the in
Tested area. either by wagon or train.
q Alfalfa should not be used as
cushion in wagon beds for the purpose
OF protecting fruit. eggs in crates. po-
tatoes or other vegetables, from bruis-
ing or breaking. when being taken out
side the infested area.
3. Sheep should not be driven
through the infested area to outside
points between the middle OF May and
the middle of September. II they are
to travel along the highways where
II will he possible for them to pass
through tall growth of alfalfa or
sweet clover.
4. Laborers should not be allowed
to pass in and out OF the infested dis
trct with rolls Of bedding. which is
likely to be spread upon alfalfa hay
for the night and become the carrier
of the beetles outside the district
g. Persons who walk about in in
ing beetles away with them. and es-
pecially is this true II men have their
pants turned up at the bottom form
ing pockets (cuffs) in which the in
,a,t. 70 op1 y,ov ba ouar IN,
large numbers. A person who had
been walking about in one Of the in
tested fields recently. happened to
think that the cuffs on his pants
might collect the weevils, and, upon
investigation, found twenty of these
insects that he might easily have car
Iried long distance.
The above are a few of the most
common methods by which the alfalfa
weevil may be carried from place to
place and will suggest the care that
should be taken to avoid carrying this
insect into uninfected territory. Those
living within an infested district.
should use every reasonable precau-
aion that they may not unnecessarily
spread the trouble to others. and those
nd djacent to such infested areas should
insist that reasonable precautions be
taken by all who are leaving an in
tested section.
The lower portion of the valley is
naturally we'll isolated from the upper
portion by the adobes lying bewteen
Austin and Rogers mesa. While II
seems probable that before many
years, this pest will make Its way to
this adobe stretch, II is possible that
for many years. Mt least. II may be |
kept from reaching the lower valley.
c.. GILLETTE.
State Entomologist.