Scout first and then decide: Using economic thresholds for alfalfa weevils

摘要

Scouting for alfalfa weevil larvae is not that difficult, although it takes several minutes when done properly. In any alfalfa field, I prefer to start my scouting with a sweep net. A sweep net and a quick and easy method of answering the question, u22are there alfalfa weevil larvae in the field?u22 By taking 40-50 sweeps in an area, it can easily be determined if larvae are present or not. If larvae are found, then proceed to the stem-sampling technique, which is used to determine the economic threshold. Stem sampling can more accurately determine the population size and the potential for yield loss.