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Forages & Grains
Volume 59 Number 18 Date 11/13/2014 POTATO LEAFHOPPER - Migrants first arrived from May 8-14 and were distributed in low numbers across the southern half of the state by early June. Nymphs appeared in second crop alfalfa during the week of June 11. Populations remained consistently low all season long, with representative counts averaging below 1.8 per sweep in all 534 alfalfa fields surveyed from May through August. Economic counts were not observed in 2014 and leafhopper control was seldom required. ALFALFA WEEVIL - Larval emergence was delayed 1-2 weeks by abnormally cool spring temperatures and counts were low throughout May and June, peaking at less than one larva per sweep from June 12-19. Significant populations did not develop in the first crop and weevil damage concerns were secondary to the excessive June rains which disrupted the alfalfa harvest. Low weevil pressure, cool weather and abundant precipitation all contributed to one of the most productive alfalfa crops in several years; 89% of the first crop rated as good to excellent when the harvest ended in late June. PEA APHID - Counts peaked at approximately 20 aphids per sweep from June 20-26 then abruptly collapsed after the first cutting. Surveys yielded very low populations during the balance of the season and no direct damage to alfalfa was attributed to this insect in 2014. -- Krista Hamilton, DATCP Entomologist 
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