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Alfalfa weevils are early in Wisconsin this year

An entomologist says it’s time to scout for alfalfa weevils.

Krista Hamilton with Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection tells Brownfield insect growth is ahead of plant development so far this spring. “The development of alfalfa weevils is running a little bit ahead of schedule as well, and egg hatch is just starting in southwestern Wisconsin, so our group of crop surveyors is going to be sampling first crop alfalfa starting next week already.”

Hamilton says alfalfa weevils are about a week ahead of normal. “We’re just starting to see some egg hatching in Grant County over to Rock County, so if someone were to take a sweep net and go out in alfalfa fields today, they’re not going to see the larvae because the eggs are just starting to hatch.”

Hamilton says the growing degree units show alfalfa weevil egg hatching is likely to spread northward next week into Iowa, Crawford, and Vernon Counties, eastward to Columbia County.

Hamilton says alfalfa weevils have already been found in neighboring Illinois and Iowa, and are just getting started in Southwestern Wisconsin.

AUDIO: Entomologist Krista Hamilton discusses alfalfa weevils with Brownfield’s Larry Lee