Document Type
Peer-Review Article
Abstract
Alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica, is present throughout Minnesota. How- ever, economically damaging populations seldom occur, due to a combination of natural enemies and adverse climatic conditions. Five natural enemies of alfalfa weevil were found in Minnesota. Microctonus aethiopoides (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid of adults, was recovered from 43 of 65 counties surveyed during 1984 and 1985. Tetrastichus incertus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and Bathyplectes curculionis (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), parasitoids of larvae, were each recovered from 13 of 15 counties surveyed during 1991-1993. Bathyplectes anurus, another parasitoid of larvae, was recovered from one county In 1991, four counties in 1992, and six counties in 1993. Zoophthora phytonomi (Entomophthora: Entomophthoraceae), a pathogen of larvae, was recovered from 14 of 15 counties surveyed in 1991-1993. Winters with low minimum temperatures and little snow cover were detrimental to the weevil. Usually, southeastern Minnesota has milder winters and higher alfalfa weevil populations than other areas of the State. However, even here, because of natural enemies, weevil populations seldom reach economically damaging levels.
Recommended Citation
Flanders, Kathy L.; Radcliffe, Edward B.; and Krueger, Craig A.
1995.
"Natural Enemies of Alfalfa Weevil, Hypera Postica (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in Minnesota,"
The Great Lakes Entomologist, vol 27
(1)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22543/0090-0222.1836
Available at:
https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol27/iss1/2