White clover is a perennial legume that originated in Europe and has become one of the most widely distributed legumes in the world. White clover is one of the most important pasture legumes. It is highly palatable and nutritious forage for all classes of livestock and most wildlife. It is also beloved by honey bees! However, recently local farmers have observed unusual reduction in the quantity and quality of the white clover in their pastures. The culprit? A tiny weevil. Clover seed weevils (Tychius picirostris) are a small gray weevil about 0.1 inch long. Their larvae damage clover seeds, feeding within and destroying seeds. This pest can seriously infest white clover and needs routine control in western Oregon, typically via insecticide treatment. Concerningly, some weevils have developed resistance to certain insecticides, exacerbating the pest issue.

Wyatt Davis-Hinze is a master’s student in the Crop and Soil Science Department at Oregon State University, and his research examines the abundance and mechanisms of insecticidal resistance in clover seed weevils. His work integrates crop science, entomology, and applied biochemistry to understand how insecticidal resistance develops and to inform more effective, sustainable pest management strategies for growers in the Pacific Northwest. His research interests lie at the interface of entomology and plant pathology, where the aim is to study how plant diseases and insect pests interact to influence crop health and yield. Of particular interest is developing and evaluating strategies that emphasize durable management strategies of key pests and pathogens in Pacific Northwest cropping systems.

To hear all about tiny bugs, the nitty-gritty of pesticides, and transporting weevils across international borders, tune in to KBVR 88.7FM at 7PM PST on February 15th for the live show, or check out the show on our podcast pages.

Written by Hannah Stuwe