Clover Root Curculio Control, Kentucky 1986

The test area was in a 4 and a 1 year old stand of ‘Buffalo’ variety alfalfa during 1985 and 1986, respectively. The plots were 34 x 40 ft and the treatment and the untreated control were replicated 4 times in a randomized block design. Furadan 4F was mixed so as to apply 1 lb (AI)/acre in 20 gal total volume per acre. The treatment was applied 28 days before harvest (mid Apr) when the alfalfa was ca. 6 inches high. Population densities of the clover root curculio were determined by placing two 1 ft2 cages per replicate at random on alfalfa plants after the first harvest was removed and prior to emergence of new adult Sitona. After all Sitona had emerged (late June), the cages were removed and the area beneath the cages was sampled with a D-vac suction sampler. To separate the Sitona from plant and soil debris, the D-vac samples were placed in Berlese funnels for 48 hours.