EFFECTS OF CROP MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON POLLINATORS AND
POLLINATION IN ALFALFA SEED Location: Pollinating Insects--
Biology, Management and Systematics Research Project Number:
5428-21000-013-22 Specific Cooperative Agreement Start Date: May
29, 2009 End Date: May 28, 2014 Lygus bugs are key pests in
alfalfa seed production systems and control is often hampered by
a need to protect alfalfa leafcutting bees, which are released
in these fields as pollinators. Until recently, compounds
available for lygus bug control in alfalfa seed consisted
largely of broad spectrum, organophosphate, carbamate and
pyrethroid insecticides. Since 2006, three new, low risk
pesticides have received Special Local Needs (24c) registration
for lygus bug control in alfalfa seed: novaluron (Rimon 0.83
EC), acetamiprid (Assail 70 WP) and flonicamid (Beleaf 50 SG).
These compounds are expected to be safe to non-target insects,
including bees. However, there is a need for research evaluating
the effectiveness of these compounds when used