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| Alfalfa infested with whitefringed beetle (Photo: NMSU-PDC) |
New Mexico alfalfa growers may wonder why some of their recently planted or replanted alfalfa fields have patchy, sparse stands and poor yields despite their best corrective efforts. The answer may be infestation by whitefringed beetle. A relative of alfalfa weevil and clover root curculio, whitefringed beetle is a native of South America. First detected in the southeastern U.S. in the mid 1930's, the pest has been associated with over 385 host plant species, including alfalfa, peanuts, cotton, okra, cowpeas, beans, numerous weed species, plus woody plants such as willow, peach, pecan and even pine. Infestations in New Mexico and elsewhere are probably more widespread than presently recognized because the insect is difficult to detect.
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| Whitefringed beetle larvae in alfalfa roots (Photo: NMSU-PDC) |
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| Alfalfa infested with whitefringed beetle (Photo: NMSU-PDC) |
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