Gunnison news-champion., 1918-07-19
{. I. GIL LETT.
State EntomolOgIst,

r. OH = oIllflrs 'blt-s > All'' W. &c.
In announcing the new quarantine
regulations relative to alfalfa weevil,
il will. perhaps be well TO offer few
words Of explanation as to the reasons
for extending the quarantine limits
and recall the value of quarantine to
districts uninfestcd by the pest.
When the wccvil was discovered in
the Paonia section last fall it was at
q time when its activities had, TO me
extent, ceased so that cxamIEat uns
indicated that it was not rrevalen: in
any field west of a north and south
line thru the western boundary of
Paonia. Extensive scout work this
spring, at time when the wccvil lar
vac were most abundant di-c oscd the
fact that the infested territory in
cludes all of that land On the North
Fork as far west as Midway, al of
Stewart mesa, except the small west
crn end, and a large portion of Bone
mesa. Scout work has been conduct
ed in the Crawford, Cory. Maher, Eek
ert, Hotchk!ss, Rogers mesa, Austin.
Cedaredge, Delta, Olathe and Mont
rose districts, but no weavilS have
been found except as stated above.
The natural spread of the weevil to
adjacent agricultural land is newt
able. The length of time that COM
munities at 4 distance from the infest-
ed territory and separated from it by
some natural barrier, remain free
from the pest will be determined
largely by the care exercised by in
dividuals when travelling. Paonia,
Hotchkiss and Rogers mesa districts
form continuous agricultural area
over which the weevil will spread nat
urally. Parts of Delta county, west
of these are protected by natural bar
riers ("dobes') which should insure
immunity indefinitely unless by a
thoughtless or malicious act, the Wee
vii is carried by artificial means.
Hay hauled from the infested terri
tory may contain live weevils for as
long as nine or ten months after it is
cut. Hauling hay or straw, even in
small amounts, is likely to be the
means of spreading the weevil to new
communities and starting new colo
nies. Bedding, clothing. or other ar
ticles can easily shelter the insects
until they will be liberated in new To-
calities. A single cuff on trousers
worn by man walking thru a field
/ that is infested, has by actual count
contained rs larvae and adult Wee
wills.
| Control measures are proving ef-
7 fective in an encouraging degree, but
| it is important to remember that pre-
vention is far better than a cure. If
you are a resident of the infested area
put yourself in your neighbor's place
and take every precaution to prevent
carrying the weevil to him.. If you
live in an uninfested territory, avail
yourself of the Colorado quarantine
law, which is for your protection, and
prevent anyone from bringing straw,
hay or anything likely to harbor Wee
wis, out of the quarantined district.
| Every case of actual or contemplated
violation of the quarantine regula-
tions reported to this station will be
investigated Immediately and steps at
once taken to enforce the law.
The quarantined area now includes
all the land on Minnesota creek and
all of that on North Fork as far west
as Hotchkiss. 1t extends to the noun
tains on the north and to the dobes on
] the south.
C. C WAKELAND,
Deputy State Entomologist.