D3100: Effects of temperature on lesser clover leaf weevil developmental time: Implications for pest management and correlation to natural conditions

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) is a short-lived perennial crop grown for seed production. The production of red clover seed is a highly important commodity in the Canadian Prairies. The seed is exported into warmer regions where it is used as plough down green manure, which provides nutrients, primarily nitrogen and organic matter, to the soil. The lesser clover leaf weevil (LCLW) greatly reduces red clover seed yield due to their ability to cause extreme damage to developing crops. Yield losses of up to 50% have been recorded with high infestations. LCLW are traditionally controlled using insecticides; however, their lifecycle and development have not been well documented in the Canadian Prairies, which is vital to optimizing insecticide applications to ensure the pest is controlled.

This study aims to determine the relationship that temperature has on the development of the lesser clover leaf weevil in both laboratory and field conditions so that LCLW populations can be estimated based on environmental conditions and allow for effective insecticide applications to take place.