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Alfalfa Looper | |
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| | Insect life cycle | Damage assessment | Management strategy
Autographa californica
Insect Life Cycle
Host plants
Although considered general feeders, alfalfa loopers prefer alfalfa, clover and lettuce. Other hosts include canola, peas, spinach and various garden crops, ornamental trees and tree fruits. Damage to canola occurs sporadically in northern and southern Alberta.
Overwintering
Found throughout Alberta, alfalfa loopers may overwinter in the pupal stage. However, most of the Alberta population is blown in from the United States each year.
Spring appearance
Early summer moths are likely to be migrants from the United States. The moths appear all summer long because generations overlap. Moths feed on flower nectar at dusk and fly during daylight hours.
Number of generations
There are two or three generations per year.
Natural enemies
Pathogens - A virus disease will usually control late-season infestations.
Damage Assessment
Damage description
Alfalfa loopers are an occasional pest in Alberta. Larvae are present from mid June through September. Small larvae feed on leaf surfaces and medium-sized larvae eat ragged holes through leaves. Older larvae feed along leaf margins and may defoliate a large portion of the plant as well as clip flowers and seed pods. The actual decrease in yield that results from this feeding damage is not known. Compensation by plants for such injuries may include continued or additional stooling. The plants may also have more flowers and set more and larger seed. Flower clipping is the most significant problem in canola, but the plant can normally compensate unless severe damage occurs.
Sampling methods
Beat plants in an area 50 cm x 50 cm and record the number of larvae on the ground. Repeat this procedure several times in different locations to obtain an average number of larvae per square metre for the field.
Economic threshold
Damage occurs through defoliation and clipping of flowers and immature seed pods. No economic threshold has been established. However, more than 15 larvae per square metre, combined with heavy defoliation or flower and pod clipping, may warrant control.
Management Strategy
Cultural practices
Avoid growing canola near alfalfa.
Biological control
If an infestation occurs, assess the damage to plants and sample the field to determine the numbers of larvae. Delay an insecticide application as long as possible to allow diseases to control the pest. Historically, the pest has been adequately controlled by viral diseases. |
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For more information about the content of this document, contact Scott Meers.
This document is maintained by Shelley Barkley.
This information published to the web on November 22, 2001.
Last Reviewed/Revised on December 7, 2011.
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