We have recently revised our publication called Ticks in Kansas. Ticks are important ectoparasites affecting both human and animal health. Ticks are effective vectors for a wide array of pathogens; therefore, prevention of bites and overall tick control is important. Read the full publication for more information: https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/ticks-in-kansas_MF2653.pdf
Cassandra Olds, Veterinary Entomology
colds@ksu.edu, (785) 706-8599
A natural way to keep gardens safe from hungry pests is to employ the help of praying mantids. Kansas State University entomologist Raymond Cloyd said this predator of the insect world can be beneficial to a home garden.
“They eat anything they can grab onto with their raptorial front legs,” Cloyd said, “including flies, crickets, moths, butterflies, wasps and caterpillars.”
He said home gardeners can keep an eye out for praying mantid egg cases between November and April. They appear as a hardened, Styrofoam-like egg case, and can adhere to branches, stems, walls, fences, sides of houses and eaves.
Just-emerged mantids, called nymphs, will be present 3-10 weeks after eggs are laid.
“Nymphs that emerge in spring resemble miniature adults,” Cloyd said. “However, not all the nymphs will survive to become adults because they are susceptible to predation by birds, toads, lizards and predacious insects.”
To ensure that the garden has a few praying mantids, their egg cases can be preserved. To do so, Cloyd suggests:
If no praying mantid egg cases can be found in the garden, Cloyd recommends purchasing them from garden centers, nurseries or other mail sources.
Cloyd and his colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining home landscapes and gardens. The newsletter is available to view online or can be delivered by email each week.
Interested persons can also send their garden and yard-related questions to Cynthia Domenghini at cdom@ksu.edu, or contact your local K-State Research and Extension office.
Raymond A. Cloyd
Professor and Extension Specialist
Horticultural Entomology/Plant Protection
Phone: 785-532-4750
Fax: 785-532-6232
e-mail: rcloyd@ksu.edu
Start monitoring alfalfa weevils using degree days and scouting
Degree day accumulations for Kansas alfalfa weevils are well ahead of normal for the entire state this year (Table 1). A similar trend occurred in 2024. As air temperatures continue to increase, It is recommended that scouting for weevil activity should be occurring right now in all regions of the state.
Table 1. Alfalfa weevil degree days as of March 12, 2025. Kansas Mesonet, 2025: Kansas Mesonet Alfalfa Weevil Degree Days Accessed 12 March 2025, http://mesonet.k-state.edu/agriculture/degreedays/
| Accumulated Alfalfa Weevil Growing Degree Days | ||||
| Station | Actual | Normal | Departure | |
| Northwest | Cheyenne | 164 | 28 | 136 |
| Colby | 165 | 25 | 140 | |
| Southwest | Garden City | 236 | 59 | 178 |
| Meade | 257 | 61 | 196 | |
| North-central | Hays | 177 | 31 | 146 |
| Osborne | 168 | 15 | 153 | |
| South-central | Hutchinson | 190 | 35 | 158 |
| Harper | 216 | 61 | 155 | |
| Northeast | Manhattan | 135 | 27 | 108 |
| Corning | 110 | 13 | 97 | |
| Southeast | Cherokee | 197 | 55 | 142 |
| Woodson | 180 | 41 | 139 | |
Alfalfa weevil degree days are a great way to estimate what might be going on in the field and serve as a useful tool to know when to time scouting. Alfalfa weevil eggs begin hatching after 300 degree days have accumulated (Table 2). Since we cannot determine if eggs present were laid the previous fall or the current spring, in Kansas, scouting should start after 180 degree days have accumulated starting from January 1.
Table 2. Approximate degree days required for alfalfa weevil development. Excerpt from Whitworth et. al., Alfalfa Weevils, Kansas State University, October 2022 (MF2999).
| Degree Days or Thermal Units | Stage | Importance |
| 25-300 | Eggs hatch | In stems |
| 301-450 | 1st and 2nd instars | Leaf pinholing – start sampling |
| 450-600 | 2nd and 3rd instars | Defoliation |
| 600-750 | 3rd and 4th instars | Defoliation |
| 750+ | Pupa to adult | Adults – some feeding – oversummering |
Be aware of insecticide resistance
While warmer spring temperatures allow for faster alfalfa weevil development, be aware that dramatic temperature drops can slow down alfalfa growth, making the plants unable to keep up with feeding damage. Treatment may be warranted in shorter fields between 3 and 7 inches tall when feeding is evident on the top inch of growth and 1 to 2 larvae are present. If a field is treated, it is important to verify that the expected amount of control was achieved. In 2020, populations of alfalfa weevil resistant to lambda-cyhalothrin were verified in northwest and southwest Kansas and Oklahoma. While this resistance has not appeared to become a widespread problem for Kansas producers, a couple of fields reported in central Kansas last year where lambda-cyhalothrin had reduced efficacy. Oklahoma continues to have resistance statewide. Numerous products are available for alfalfa weevil control in Kansas (Table 3). When making management decisions, it is important to rotate modes of action as this is an effective way to prevent the development of resistance.
Table 3. Products registered in Kansas for control alfalfa weevil. Treatments listed are mainly used for treating alfalfa weevil larvae; products with an asterisk are also recommended for adult alfalfa weevil control. For more specific information relative to any insecticide, always refer to the actual label on the product.
| Trade Name | Chemical Name | Mode of Action Class |
| Fastac CS | Alpha-cypermethrin | 3A |
| Baythroid XL | Beta-cyfluthrin | 3A |
| Lorsban | Chlorpyrifos | 1B |
| Cobalt Advanced | Chlopyrifos + lambda-cyhalothrin | 1B+3A |
| Stallion | Chlopyrifos + zeta-cypermethrin | 1B+3A |
| Tombstone | Cyfluthrin | 3A |
| Proaxis | Gamma-cyhalothrin | 3A |
| Steward | Indoxacarb | 22A |
| Warrior II w/Zeon Tech | Lambda-cyhalothrin | 3A |
| Beseige | Lambda-cyhalothrin + chlorantraniliprole | 3A+28 |
| Lannate | Methomyl | 1A |
| Imidan 70-W* | Phosmet | 1B |
| Mustang MAXX | Zeta-cypermethrin | 3A |
For the most up-to-date alfalfa weevil degree day accumulations, visit the Kansas Mesonet Alfalfa Weevil Degree Day Calculator (https://mesonet.k-state.edu/agriculture/degreedays/). For a complete guide to alfalfa weevil management recommendations, please refer to the upcoming 2025 Alfalfa Insect Pest Management Guide that will be available online soon.
Anthony Zukoff, Extension Entomology Associate – Garden City
azukoff@ksu.edu
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is proposing to list the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the 48 contiguous states. A threatened listing under the ESA can modify or exempt certain species protections to balance conservation efforts with economic impacts. It allows flexibility to incentivize positive conservation actions. Details about prohibitions and exceptions are available on the FWS website.
Continue reading “Proposed listing of the monarch butterfly as a threatened species”
by Crystal Ly, Communications and Marketing Specialist
Crystal Ly, Communications and Marketing Specialist, is reviving our Kansas Bugs online blog website to make sure it capture all the news our department has to offer. We are exploring ways to more efficiently get important bug information out to Agribusinesses, Applicators, Consultants and Extension Personnel! Thank you for your patience as we use this avenue.