Clover stem weevil [1] ( lat. Apion seniculus ) is a beetle from the family of the seed-eater (Apionidae).
| Clover stem weevil |
| Scientific classification |
|---|
| No rank : | Bilateral symmetrical |
| Subtype : | Tracheo-breathing |
| Infraclass : | Winged insects |
| Treasure : | Fully Transformed Insects |
| Superfamily : | Curculionoid |
|
| International scientific name |
|---|
Apion seniculus Kirby, 1808 |
|
Beetle 2-3-3 mm long. The body is black with a tin-bluish sheen. The rostrum is thin and long. Elytra longitudinally oval, elliptical.
The beetles feed on the tissues of clover leaves, and the larvae develop inside the stems, sometimes deepen through the root neck to the root. Also fodder plants for this species are alfalfa , less commonly sainfoin .
The crops of the second and third years suffer the most. Damaged plants do not overwinter and grow poorly.