6—Lancaster Farming Saturday, July 29, 1961 Alfalfa Weevil Reduced By Helpful Wasp A he'pful insect which parasitizes the destructive al falfa weevil in the West is being released in several Eastern States, a recent U. S. Department of Agriculture report says. This effort to establish a beneficial parasite (larvae o" a V«-inch-long wasp) is aimed at eventually reducing alfa fa losses caused by the weevil. In the past 10 years, the alfalfa weevil has become a serious pest of alfalfa in the East. Prior to 1951, the weev il was confined to Western States where the wasp (Ba thyplectes curculionis) is present. The adult wasp lays its eggs in weevil larvae. The egg hatch into larvae that feed inside the host. After the host spins a cocoon, it is killed by the larval parasite. Since most of the feeding on alfalfa is done by weevil larvae, the parasite -doesn’t reduce the weevil’s damage (mainly to first-cut ting a’falfa) that year. Any benefit will come through re duced weevil populations the next year. This wasp was brought from Europe to Utah in 1911. It isn’t expected to produce immediate results in the East Entomologists -believe it will take the insect several years after it becomes established to spread throughout Eastern weevil-infested areas. No Dramatic Results Experience in the West shows that the parasite wiT not produce dramatic results; weevil damage continues there even though the wasp is well established There is little hope of com pletely controlling the wee vil by introducing the wasp. But if it becomes established, the number of weevi’s will be reduced Nearly 90 per cent of weevil larvae has been parasitized in some Western areas. Efforts to establish the wasp m the East were start ed by ARS entomologists at the Parasite Introduction Station, Moorestown, N. J. After being shipped from „ California in 1959, the insect was released in seven alfalfa ' fields in Delaware, New Jer sey and Virginia. Parasitized weevls were found a year later in all the fields, indicat ing the ability of the wasp to survive in the East Wasps are now being released in other locations Other Controls Although the parasite helps reduce further weevil popul ations, there are other ways to combat this alfalfa pest Pesticides, such as malathion or methoxychlor, provide protection for alfalfa by kill ing weevil larvae while they are infecting the crop Many, larvae die from exposure to the sun’s heat at the time the first alfalfa cutting is made. Weevil - resistant varities of alfalfa may be developed Preliminary experiments are being conducted by State and USDA plant breeders and entomologists at Raleigh, N C , and at the Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Md ARS entomologists have introduced other types of al falfa weevil parasites from Europe. One species kills adult weevils; another para sitizes weevil eggs However, there is no evidence that these parasites have become established in the U. S. One hour of farm labor produces 4 times as much food and fiber as it did in 1919-21 Crop production is 58 percent higher per acre. Output per breeding animal is 81 percent greater. Patronize our advertisers. priced in xne usual manner. Branching occurs where con- pr<! 15 canon, .National tonai •»»* •» In some instani'es eggs by the dHions o! moisture, plant —— - getting th material EGG PRODUCERS IMPROVED QUALITY EQUALS GREATER RETURNS Research is constantly in progress here at Early Bird to find wj of increasing the efficiency of our laying rations. THE AIM: A. Improving the amino acid balance. B. Energy content as related to protein content. C. Optimum levels of vitamins and mineral for- the tification., Basic type research conducted by the many Agricultural-Experimental stations is constantly bei D v'ew°'i in an effort to find methods of applying the findings to practical feed formulation. INTERIOR EGG QUALITY This photograph shows an important phase of the program. Egg quality as indicated by albu men height and recorded as Haugh units. The maintenance of high Haugh units is necessary for eggs to be classified as high quaUty eggs. Consequently the various factors which affect Haugh units are under constant investigation at the Carly-Bird Research Farm. \\\l I//// LOWER Some of the phases covered in this field are: fe -*■ v? ■** COSTS GREATER This photograph depicts the experimental pens which p mil close supervision of the birds as well as the coiect of accurate data. Dr. Woodie Williams is looking ai st of his girls. Miller & Bushong ROHRERSTOWN,- PA. 131. - HIGHER QUALITY RETURNS D. Systems of feeding. E. Egg handling techniques. G. FACTORS AFFECTING OR IMPROVE EGG QUALITY. YOLK COLOR Many buyers and consumers put consider! emphasis on yolk color. Through the use of a series of egg color ck the exact effect of a particular feed ingredi on the egg yolk color can be determined. 1 egg yolk co’or charts can be used to prodn egg yolk color according to specification. SHELL QUALITY IS ALL IMPOB The qua'ity of fhe egg shell is affected factors such as the calcium and phosphon lent of the diet, temperature, etc. The 1 solutions of varying specific gravity help mine the exact effect of temperature/ nUI and other factors on shell quality. Finest Service Anywhere ; l!OWi6Vsi>2rK Ph. Lancaster EXpr fis! b m itV * bearing treeS m
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers