Evaluation of radiometer monitoring as an early warning tool
for alfalfa weevil and potato leafhopper infestations in alfalfa.
Contacts: Wayne Bailey and Rob Kallenbach
MU Departments of Entomology and Agronomy
The alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica, and the potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae, are two insects which can substantially reduce alfalfa productivity and forage quality under Missouri field conditions. Problems with both of these insects are often more severe than necessary because producers who have not adopted the recommended scouting methods fail to treat when economic threshold levels are reached.
The radiometer may prove to be a useful insect monitoring tool. It is currently used from both ground and satellite stations to measure changes in water content of various field crops. However, little if any information is available as to whether or not a radiometer is capable of measuring alfalfa weevil and potato leafhopper populations. If ground radiometer data can be correlated with insect infestations in alfalfa, then more accurate information will be available for development of pest management decisions and implementation of timely control options. This project will determine if a field radiometer can detect alfalfa weevil and potato leafhopper infestations and at what stage of development.
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