UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
, BULLETIN No. 889 
Contribution from the Bureau of Entomology 
L. O. HOWARD, Chief 
Washington, D. C. PROFESSIONAL PAPER October 25, 1920 
CLOVER STEM-BORER AS AN ALFALFA PEST. 
By V. L. Winpermuta, Entomological Assistant, and F. H. Gates, Sctentific 
Assistant, Cereal and Forage Insect Investigations. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. Page. 
MIT TOMUCTION EE etas. satome cee ae eee eee 1 bifemistonyandhabitssssseseeeee 2 see cee one 6 
HanlyamiStobyae eesti esos eee eee |G Scasonalshistonyessccses aces tee nan oe eee ace 16 
DIS Grab Wb ONE eee ees A ae eon 8: Deol Cari osm eth OSes sae seer tare oe a 18 
HOO dsp lants aes cy ey eee tne en ee 3) |) INeNbieal LOGINS. Be ooo eck dao b Deck noone a eodoud 19 
Economicimportance of theinsect to alfalfa and Controlemeasunesseaee ss eeeeecee seer eee ee eee 21 
CLOW Ozer as eee tea ae eee ee ei Ae | Sa\S UMMM ANY = esters eerie oe ae eke a eee eee 24 
WESCHD LOR esa mecineic es cn ceric ss seeeee eens te okie oP weliterature|citeds.<s.s5 esse lessee eees cee cceee 24 
INTRODUCTION. 
The clover stem-borer (fig. 1) (Languria mozardi Latr.) has been 
known for a great many years, and is often briefly referred to in 
literature as a pest of red and mammoth clovers. In 1909 Prof. J. W. 
Folsom (16)! recorded many important facts regarding its life his- 
tory and habits as an enemy of clover. The larve or young subsist 
upon the pith eaten from the center of the clover stems. 
During recent years, especially in the southwestern semiarid and 
irrigated regions, the beetle has been discovered feeding upon alfalfa 
(Medicago sativa) and has become a pest of considerable importance 
to alfalfa culture. The young borer, as in the case of clover injury, 
eats the center of an alfalfa stem orn causes 1t to become woody 
and possibly to break off and lodge. 
The present paper is a Eorplete account of the life history and 
habits of the insect as an enemy to alfalfa culture as well as a 
discussion of methods of controlling the pest. 
EARLY HISTORY. 
The clover stem-borer is distinctly a native of America, not being 
listed in European catalogues. The earliest record of it is in 1807, 
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1 Figures in parenthesis refer to ‘‘Literature cited,’’ p. 24, 
186607 °—20——1 
