Alfalfa Weevil Activity: June 7, 2019

Jun 11, 2019
By Adam Varenhorst
 
Quite a few degree days were accumulated over the course of the last week. Alfalfa fields should be closely monitored for alfalfa weevil activity for the next couple of weeks, even in areas where degree days indicate the alfalfa weevils are pupating. Degree day calculations are not exact and it is likely that larvae are still active in these areas due to the cool, wet weather of previous weeks.
 
Predicting Alfalfa Weevil Activity
 
The alfalfa weevil defoliates alfalfa as both adults and larvae, but the larvae cause a lot more defoliation than the adults. One of the ways that we can determine when to start scouting for alfalfa weevils is by calculating degree days. In South Dakota, alfalfa weevils overwinter as adults. There are two strains of the alfalfa weevil that are present in South Dakota and overlap in most of the state. They are they Eastern strain and Western strain. Although the two strains are nearly identical in appearance, they do differ in their spring emergence patterns, with the Eastern strain emerging earlier in the season than the Western Strain. As a result, it sometimes will appear that there are two generations of alfalfa weevils during the spring.
 
ACCUMULATED DEGREE DAYS
 
To monitor alfalfa weevil activity, we can estimate activity based on degree day accumulation. The equation for degree days is:
 
(Maximum Daily Temperature - Minimum Daily Temperature) ÷ 2 - The Developmental Threshold
 
For the alfalfa weevil, the developmental threshold is 48°F. This equation is used for days that the maximum temperature exceeds 48°F. In cases where the minimum temperature is lower than 48°F, the actual temperature is substituted by the 48°F developmental threshold since no development is occurring below it. Degree day accumulation begins on January 1. First overwintering adult alfalfa weevil activity is generally observed around 200-degree days and larvae hatch is generally around 300-degree days (Table 1).
 

Table 1. Alfalfa weevil life stages based on degree days.

 
Accumulated
Degree Days
Alfalfa Weevil Activity
(Overwintering as Adults)
0-199
Limited to no activity of alfalfa weevils.
200-299
Overwintering adult activity is observed in alfalfa fields (begin scouting fields).
300-371
Spring laid eggs hatch. First instar larvae begin feeding.
372-438
Second instar larvae feeding.
439-504
Third instar larvae feeding.
505-595
Fourth instar larvae feeding (Period when greatest damage will occur).
596-814
Pupation.
815-greater
Adult emergence (will overwinter).
 
LARVAL INSTARS
 
The alfalfa weevil has four larval instars. With the 1st being the smallest larvae and the 4th being the largest larvae. The later instar larvae will consume additional leaf tissue, which results in increased defoliation. As a result, management would ideally be done while larvae are still in the 1st and 2nd instar growth stages.
 
Current Accumulated Degree Days
 
For South Dakota, alfalfa weevil larvae are likely active throughout all of the state. There are a handful of locations where enough degree days have been accumulated to suggest that the larvae have now pupated. However, it is possible for these degree days to be misleading and alfalfa in those areas should continue to be scouted.
 

Table 2. Degree day accumulations for several S.D. locations.

 
Location
Accumulated Degree Days
Since January 1, 2019
Buffalo
456
Newell
436
Rapid City
483
Hot Springs
629
Lemmon
462
Faith
413
Cottonwood
489
Mission
525
Selby
453
Gettysburg
400
Pierre
525
Winner
631
Aberdeen
517
Huron
830
Mitchell
935
Tyndall
939
Sisseton
711
Brookings
708
Vermillion
967

Source:sdstate.edu

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