insects before they enter your home and eliminate the indoor use of ant baits, which 

 small children are tempted to eat. But above all, keep pesticides under lock and 

 key where children cannot get them. 



Alfalfa weevil damage will be severe in almost all alfalfa fields south of a line 

 from Paris to Alton. Moderate -to -heavy damage will occur in most alfalfa fields 

 north to a line from Watseka to Springfield to Hardin. Weevil feeding will be ap- 

 parent in alfalfa fields north of this line, but will not reach significant propor- 

 tions. 



Larvae are now hatching in southern Illinois; they can be found quite easily. Dam- 

 age has not occurred yet; but by next week, feeding should be noticeable. As the 

 weather warms, observe fields closely for weevil feeding. The first insecticide 

 application will probably not be needed in the more advanced fields in extreme 

 southern Illinois until the first week in April or later, depending on the weather. 



If you intend to protect your alfalfa from weevil attack, begin to make prepara- 

 tions now. Apply the insecticide when weevil feeding has become noticeably appar- 

 ent on 25 percent or more of the terminals; a second application may be needed 

 about 2 weeks later as more larvae hatch; and a third one may be needed to protect 

 the new shoots after the first cutting has been removed. This may seem expensive, 

 but you will produce more and better-quality alfalfa than in the past. 



The recommendations are : 



1. Experienced commercial applicators who have the proper protective clothing 

 will get best results with methyl parathion applied at 1/2 pound per acre or 

 a special alfalfa weevil spray of azinphosmethyl (Guthion) at 1/2 pound per 

 acre. Azinphosmethyl can be applied only once per cutting. 



2 . The person not properly equipped with protective clothing to use methyl para - 

 thion or azinphosmethyl can use a mixture of 5/4 pound of malathion and 5/4 

 pound of methoxychlor per acre or a mixture of 1/2 pound of diazinon and 1 

 pound of methoxychlor per acre. When air temperatures are above 60° F., you 

 may also use 1 1/4 pounds of malathion per acre. 



Allow 15 days to elapse between an application of methyl parathion and harvest, 

 16 days for azinphosmethyl, 7 days with methoxychlor, and 7 days with diazinon. 

 No interval is required between the application of malathion and harvest. 



We are continually questioned about the most effective material. Methyl para- 

 thion, put on by commercial applicators who wear protective clothing, usually pro- 

 vides the best control under all conditions. Furthermore, the total cost of chem- 

 ical and application may not be any greater than chemical cost plus labor for the 

 materials used by the individual applicator. Regardless of what or how the mate- 

 rial is applied, timing is critical. An application made too early may be wasted, 

 but an application that is too late usually means a crop loss. Apply when 25 per- 

 cent of the terminal growth has obvious feeding damage. 



The quantity of finished spray applied per acre is also important. Use no less 

 than 4 gallons per acre by air or 20 gallons per acre by ground machine. The 

 exception is on stubble, where 10 gallons per acre by ground will be sufficient. 



