Beneficial Insects |
| It is fortunate for alfalfa growers that many of the insects found in this crop are natural enemies that attack the plant-feeding insect species. Although natural enemies do not typically maintain populations of some insect pests such as the alfalfa weevil below economic threshold levels, others such as aphids and foliage-feeding caterpillars are effectively controlled in most years. The need for insecticide applications would be increased greatly were it not for the presence of these natural enemies. A second group of beneficial insects that are of critical importance in alfalfa seed production is the pollinators. |
