Alfalfa weevil parasites found in Pennsylvania
LANCASTER - Tiny
wasps-parasites of the
alfalfa weevil-have been
found over much of the East
and Midwest in a survey that
is the first step in a major
biological control effort, U.S.
Department of Agriculture
officials said today.
“Bug hunters” from
USDA’s Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service
have spent the summer
your American Banker.
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At American Bank, our people go right to work for
you. Because they’re the finest crop of Agri-Business
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often they’re out in the field serving you—discussing
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Each has a farming background so, when they come
out to see you, they speak your language.
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had a special kinship with farmers and their land. Over
the years we’ve kept pace with their needs with loans
for livestock, new equipment construction and remod-
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EQUAt HOUSIRC
lender YVith over 65 offices throughout Berks. Chester Montgomery. Lancaster Lebanon Lehigh and Schuylkill Counties
combing alfalfa fields in
selected areas of Penn
sylvania, Illinois, Indiana,
lowa, Kentucky, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio,
Virginia, West Virginia and
Wisconsin, looking for the
parasites.
The parasites were
released over several years
m those states but have not
been confirmed as
established in many areas.
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The best hired hand you’re
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“We’ve been looking
principally for two species of
parasites of the weevil,”
said USDA field cordinator
Thomas Burger, based in
Niles, Mich. “We know that
they and other parasite
species are saving farmers
in the northeastern states
over $7 million a year in
alfalfa weevil control costs,
but there’s never been a
systematic survey to find out
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eling. As times and needs changed, we helped with
lines of credit and operating capital. Today, we’re still
maintaining that pace with additional financial services
like trusts, retirement and estate planning, and savings
and checking accounts.
We’re proud of our Agri-Business people and their
farming heritage, but even more proud of the way their
banking ideas are helping you. If you’d like an Amer
ican Banker to give you a hand, just call (215) 375-
5993. You’ll get a fair shake.
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Bank
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if they’re on the job in other
areas as well.”
The weevil damages
alfalfa-the nation’s leading
hay crop and essential for
successful dairy farming-by
feeding on the plant’s tips,
leaves and buds, causing an
estimated $250 million
damage per year. It was
- first found m the United
States in 1904 in Utah. It
showed up in New Jersey m
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Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Saptembar 13,1950—A25
the 1950’s and has since
spread throughout most U.S.
alfalfa-growing areas.
The current survey is
being made in preparation
for mass release of the
weevil parasites. It is part of
a stepped-up biological
control effort in
cooperation with the
department’s Science and
Education Administration
and the states - to develoo
and implement en
vironmentally sound pest
control methods involving
use of parasites, predators,
pathogens (diseases) and
other biological methods.
“The parasites help
control the weevil by laying
their eggs in weevil larvae or
other life stages,” said
Burger. “The young
parasites feed on internal
organs of the weevil, killing
it.”
Certain species of the
parasites were found for the
first time in lowa, Kentucky,
Michigan and Wisconsin,
plus 65 other counties in
these and other survey
states.
In addition to the detection
survey, USDA coordinated a
search for insectary-insect
nursery-sites in Illinois,
Indiana, lowa, Missouri,
Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Sites for !1 insectaries were
located and parasites
released in seven.
In years to come these will
serve as sites from which
parasitized weevil may be
collected for redistribution
to areas where needed to
provide control. Areas in
Indiana, Kentucky,
Michigan and New Jersey
were also searched for
already-established con
centrations of parasites for
use as additional collection
points.
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In 1981 USDA plans to
release limited numbers of
parasites in this year’s
survey states and conduct
additional surveys m North
Dakota, South Dakota,
Nebraska, Kansas,
Oklahoma, Arkansas,
Tennessee, South Carolina
North Carolina and Virginia
By the end of 1982, all majoi
U.S. alfalfa growing areas
will have been surveyed anc
major parasiti
redistribution operation;
will be underway.
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