173 



Alfalfa weevil ( Phyfoiiomiis posticus), 



Western army worm {Chorisa gratis agrestis grotc), 



Alfalfa looper {Autographa gamma calif ornica), 



Alfalfa crane fl}^ (Tipnla simplex Dvane), 



Grasshopper — various species, 



Western 12 spotted cucumber beetle (Diablrtica sotior Lee), 



Clover or almond mite — (Bryolia pratensis gar). 



According" to Farmer's Bulletin No. 495, the clover seed Chalcis 

 fly (Bruchpaghus fuv.ehris Howard) is also very injurious to 

 alfalfa seed. 



Although the cut worm was the only serious pest at the Col- 

 lege of Hawaii, it was found to be an extremely serious and dif- 

 ficult one to combat, owing to its presence in large numbers and 

 to its habits. This worm feeds at night, devouring leaves, stalk 

 and all, and hides in burrows a few inches under the ground 

 during the day. This pest, together with weeds, was found to be 

 the cause of a great deal of trouble and disappointment in our 

 efforts to get a stand of alfalfa, for in one night what little growth 

 that was made during a few days would be entirely wiped out. 



All possible efforts were made to establish the crop ; poisoned 

 bait consisting of 5 lbs. of bran, 5 lbs. middlings, 1 lb. white 

 arsenic, 1 lb. sugar, and about 1 qt. of water, laid out at the rate 

 of 36 lbs. per acre, was found to be fairly effective for several 

 days. Flooding the field was also effective, but in spite of all 

 our efforts, the cut worms continued their work of destruction 

 and promised to maintain the supremacy. In ten feet of row one 

 of the men counted 193 dead cut worms which had been poisoned 

 the night before. The outlook was so disappointing that the men 

 in charge of the field were on the point of giving it up, when it 

 was decided to make a few more trials, which fortunately resulted 

 in perfect success. Since the first crop was harvested there has 

 been no more trouble with either weeds or cut worms, and the 

 crops now being harvested are proving that the time, trouble, and 

 expense devoted to the establishment of the field has been more 

 than worth the effort. 



Animal Pests. There are no animal pests of alfalfa in Hawaii, 

 but various sections of the United States have found the wood- 

 chuck, ground squirrel, prairie dog, gopher and field mouse rather 

 noxious at various times owing to their habits of burrowing into 

 the ground and eating the roots. Being easily destroyed by drown- 

 ing, they are not serious pests. 



Fungous Diseases. \'arious fungous diseases have been re- 

 ported from different regions as being rather serious in alfalfa 

 fields, many of them being especially serious on certain varieties. 

 They generally cause a wilting of the plant with a subsequent 

 dying and rotting. Various fungicides have been used against 

 such diseases with more or less success, but the only recommended 

 method to combat them when they have once become well estab- 



