Alfalfa Weevil a real problem this year

Our warmer-than-normal winter and accompanying spring have allowed the alfalfa weevil population to flourish this spring and early summer.  Here are a couple of websites dedicated to providing options for control.

http://www.ipm.montana.edu/Training/PMT/2006/AlfalfaWeevil.pdf

  

http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/aginfo/entomology/entupdates/ICG_11/10_ForageCropInsects2011.pdf

I wish that I had taken pictures of our alfalfa fields before they were cut but I didn't get it done in time.  Which, in hindsight is kind of a good thing because that means that our producers got their hay cut in a timely manner to try and prevent further damage from this pest. Here are a couple of pictures that I found from various sources that show the damage the weevil does and what the larva and adult look like.

The grayish-white areas in this field are typical of what you would see if driving by an alfalfa field that has been infested.  This picture is courtesy of Iowa State University.  The affected areas show where no treatment was applied.

And here is a picture of the larva courtesy of Oklahoma State University Extension.  This is the growth stage of the pest that does the most damage.

And finally, a picture of the adult beetle, also from Oklahoma State University Extension.