'53.9

918 NO. 16

University of Montana

Agricultural Experiment Station

BOZEMAN, MONTANA
BULLETIN NO. 126 DECEMBER, 1918

Sixteenth Annual Report of the

State Entomologist

of [Montana

False chinch bug {Nysius ericae Schill)

K^ A. COOLKV °" 3 I 2007

Montana State Library

3 0864 1004 0546 6

Sixteenth x\nniial Report of the State
Entomologist of Montana

NOTES ON INSECT PESTS OF 1918

THE MITES AND TICKS (ACAEINA)
Red Spider {Tetranychus bUnaculatus Harvey). — Red spiders
were reported from several counties as injuring the foliage of rasp-
berries and currant bushes.

Pear-Leaf Blister-Mite {EHophyes pyri Pagnat). — Fruit growers
in the Bitter Root district each year report that the blister-mite is
their biggest problem in insect control. While this mite was present
in smaller numbers in 1918 than for several years previously, yet con-
siderable injury was done in orchards that did not receive the lime-
sulphur spray early in the spring.

CEICKETS AND GRASSHOPPERS (ORTHOPTERA)

Black Cricket {Gryllus assimiJis Stew.). — During the late sum-
mer and early fall the common black cricket became so abundant
in parts of Big Horn County that it attracted considerable attention
from farmers, who feared the destruction of their crops. In some
localities the ground was black with crickets. Flax and oats were
badly injured by their eating into the boll and the kernel. This is
the first report of serious cricket injury that has come to the State
entomologist's office.

Coulee Cricket {Pei-anahrjLs scahracollis Thom.). — This large,
repulsive-looking insect was again present in injurious numbers near
Ronan on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Large, migrating armies
of what was probably the same species were reported along the
southern boundary of Gallatin County.

Grasshoppers (.Ifelanopha^ sp.). — Grasshopper injury was much
less severe than in 1917. Great damage was done locally on many
farms but no outbreaks occurred over large areas.

Yellow-Winged Grasshopper (Cajitnula pellnclda Scud.V —

24 MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION

This species was unusually abundant in the upper Bitter Root valley
and in many local outbreaks in other parts of the State. In no
instance, however, was it reported as migrating.

THE TRUE BUGS (HEMIPTEEA)

False Chinch Bug (JS'''ysius ericas Schill). — Farmers have repeat-
edly mistaken this bug for the chinch bug and its unusual abundance
during the past season caused considerable alarm. Letters and tel-
egrams were received, stating that chinch bugs were invading grain
fields, but in every case the false chinch bug was the cause of the
scare. No damage to grain crops was found but gardens were very
badly injured.

Cabbage Aphis {Aphis hrassicae L.). — Cabbages, rutabagas, and
rape in all parts of the State suffered from the attacks of the cab-
bage aphis, which was more abundant than for several years.
Spraying with Black Leaf 40 and soap will control this serious pest
of garden and field crops.

Elm Gall Louse {Schizoneura aiyiericana Riley). — Elm trees
in all parts of the State suffered from the attacks of this pest. In the
Gallatin Valley the returning fall migrants from the service-berry
swarmed to the elm trees by the millions, indicating that the injury
will be worse than ever next year.

Fall-Grain Aphis (Macrosiphujn sp.). — Many letters were
received during the fall months concerning an aphid which covered
the heads of grain at harvest time. This plant louse attracts atten-
tion each fall but apparently appears too late to injure the crop of
the present year and does no appreciable damage to fall-seeded grain.

Sugar-Beet Root-Louse (Pemphigus betae Doane). — This was
not as abundant as usual, but nevertheless caused considerable dam-
age in the beet-grow'ing sections of the State. Experiments con-
ducted in the Yellowstone Valley show that the injury can be very
greatly reduced by frequent irrigations.

Green Apple Aphis (Aphis pomi De G.). — This aphis was pres-
ent in considerably less than normal abundance.

Grain Root Aphis (Forda occidentaUs Hort.) was reported from
many parts of the State as abundant on roots of small grains and
grasses. No proof of its injuring grain has been established.

MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES (LEPIDOPTERA)
Sugar-Beet Webworm {Loxoste§e sticticalis Linn.). — The out-

SIXTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 25

Standing entomological feature of the year was an unprecedented
outbreak of the sugar-beet webworm. During the first three weeks
in August millions of webworms appeared in the northern and central
counties of the State. Beets, beans, corn, and garden crops were
all seriously damaged. Not only were crops injured but houses
were infested and wells were contaminated by the millions of crawl-
ing W'Orms. Fortunately, grain crops w-ere not molested. Russian
thistle and pigweed are favorite food plants of this insect and much
of the damage done in gardens was due to the presence of weedy
areas which had attracted the moths for egg-laying and in which
millions of webworms Avere hatched out.

White-Lined Morning Sphinx {Deilephila lineata Fab.). — The
large green larvae of this beautiful moth were reported as very
abundant near Columbus. Weeds were mainly fed upon and no
damage to crops was reported.

Imported Cabbage Worm (Pontia vapae Linn.). — As usual, the
cabbage worm was highly destructive throughout the State and
numerous letters were received from owners of war gardens w^ho
were anxious to learn the best method of getting rid of this pest.
Like the potato beetle, this is one of the insects that has to be
fought every year.

Cutworms (J^octuidae) . — Although no wude-spread outbreak
of army cutworms occurred, yet cutworms were more abundant
throughout the State as a whole than for several years. War gardens
in many communities suffered severe setbacks, corn, peas, and beans
having to be replanted several times in order to get a stand. In
several counties, grain crops and alfalfa were badly injured.

Webbing Clothes Moth {Tineola hiselliella Hummel). — Clothes
moths were unusually abundant during the summer months. In
some instances, larvae were found in great abundance and doing
damage in November.

Mourning Cloak Butterfly (Euvanessa antiopa L.). — The larvae
of this butterfly, commonly known as the spiny elm caterpillar,
have been reported many times as working on elm and willow foliage
and during the past season have worked on cottonwood foliage as
well.

Tortoise-Shell Butterfly {Eu^onia calif ovnica Bois). — Residents
in the w^estern end of the State reported great swarms of these
butterflies, particularly in Sanders County. Farmers feared that

26 MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION

their presence in such large numbers forecast a brood of injurious
caterpillars but such was not the case. This species is not known
to be injurious to plants of value.

Luna Moth {Tropaea luna Linn.)- — The County Agent of
Richland County reported that the larvae of this beautiful moth
stripped the foliage from the box-elder trees.

PLIES (DIPTERA)

Wheat Stem Maggots. — Early in the spring numerous com-
plaints were received fr<>m grain growers in southern and eastern
Montana, stating that a small, white maggot was destroying both
winter and spring wheat by boring through the central stem. An
investigation showed that two species of maggots, hitherto unknown
in Montana, were doing the damage.

Onion Maggot (PJwrbia ceparuT)v Meade). — Like the cabbage
maggot, this insect is becoming more abundant and destructive each
year.

Cabbage Maggot (Phorhia brassicae Boche). — Each year the
cabbage maggot becomes more troublesome to gardeners, especially
in the northern parts of the State. Turnips, rutabagas and radishes
are also attacked.

Nose Fly {Gastropldhis liaeinorrlioidalis Linn.). — The nose fly
has now spread throughout the State and is a constant source of
irritation to horses during the hot summer months.

Currant Fruit Fly {^Epoclira canadensis Loew. ). — Owing to the
total failure of the currant crop in many parts of the State, fewer
inquiries than usual were received concerning this pest of the cur-
rant and gooseberry.

Mosquitoes (Culicidae). — Several requests for aid in mosquito
control campaigns were received but. because of lack of funds and
the pressure of other work, no help could be gi\en.

THE BEETLES (COLEOPTERA)
Pea Weevil (Briicluis phi Linn.). — It is now definitely estab-
lished that the pea weevil can breed rapidly in ^Montana. Weevil-
infested peas planted by a farmer in the Yellowstone A'alley yielded
a badlv infested crop last year and again this year. It is to be
regretted that this enemy of the seed pea industry has now became
estal)lished within the State.

SIXTEENTH ANXT-.M. i;EPOKT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 27

Colorado Potato Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say). —
Potato beetles were nu)re plentiful than for several years. Their
unusual abundance, coupled with the scarcity of Paris green, caused
considerable loss in some districts. Calcium arsenate and zinc arsen-
ite were used with g-ood success in place of Paris green.

Flea Beetles (K])itvis sp.). — Flea beetles were very abundant,
causing consideral^le anxiety to owners of war gardens during the
spring months. In most cases the injury was outgrown before the
growing season was o\er.

Nuttall's Blister Beetle {CavfJiaris nuttalli Say). — This brightly
colored beetle was reported as cutting the blossoms and buds of
beans. Some damage was also done to alfalfa.

Wireworms (ElateTidae). — Wire worms were more abundant
than usual, attacking many different kinds of crops. Wireworm
injury of an uncommon sort was reported from Three Forks where
sprouting peas were riddled so badly that a very poor stand was
secured.

Sunflower Beetle {ChrysomeJa exclaTnationis Fab.). — For the
past two seasons, both wild and cultivated sunflowers have been
attacked by this beetle.

BEES AND WASPS (HY:krENOPTEEA)
Currant Sawfiy {Gymnonychiis appendiculatus Hartig). — The
larvae of this sawtiy were reported as defoliating currants and goose-
berries.

Leaf-Cutter Bees {Me^acliile sp.). — Each year numerous letters
are received concerning this interesting although destructive bee.
In the shelter-belt plantings in eastern ]\Iontana it is a very serious
pest, as it nearly defoliates the ash tree, which otherwise is one of
the most desirable trees that can be planted in the plains area.

REVIEW OF THE YEAR 1918
Each year has its outstanding entomological incidents or feat-
ures. In addition to certain insects which are regularly present
and destructive, there are those that come unexpectedly, and it is
often impossible for us to determine in advance what the principal
interests are to be. The season of 1918, on the whole, was an active
one, there being many pests that were brought to our attention
and a few that were widespread and very injurious.

2S MONTANA EXrERTMENT STATION

GRASSHOPPERS IN 19 IS

In view of the extensive damage caused by grasshoppers in
1917 we were on the alert in the spring of 1918, looking for any
outbreaks which might occur in any part of the State. Our attention
was especially directed toward those localities which had sufifered
most heavily in the previous year. As mentioned on page 207 of
my last report, it was feared the species of grasshopper which had
appeared in great numbers was none other than the Rocky Mountain
migratory locust which some fifty years ago had wrought such
serious and extensive damage over a large part of the United States
and that we might reasonably expect a repetition of the devastation
wrought in the earlier years. On the whole, grasshopper damages
were less severe than in 1917, but there were reports from numerous
widely separated parts of the State, most of which were looked into
by representatives from this office. The particular long-winged
species resembling, if not identical with, the Rocky Mountain migra-
tory locust which had prevailed in 1917 appeared again in some
localities but, for the most part, the damage in 1918 was caused by
miscellaneous resident species which are always present in greater
or less numbers. Among these were the Yellow-Winged Locust or
the Warrior Locust {Camnula pelliicida Scud.), the Two-Striped
Locust (vMelanoplus hivittatus Say), the Big-Headed Grasshopper
{Aulocara elliotti Thomas), and various others.

The species resembling the Rocky Mountain locust was abund-
ant and injurious in a region extending through the southern portion
of Broadwater and the eastern portion of Gallatin counties. In this
legion, which also had been visited by this insect the previous
season, some thousands of acres of wheat were seriously damaged.
Some fields were completely eaten ofif. Tiie farmers were energetic
m their efforts to control the outbreak and poison bran mash and
'hopper catching machines were used. This locality was visited by
Mr. J. R. Parker and myself in September and we found that the
insects had very largely disappeared without laying eggs. While
earlier in the year the long-winged grasshopper had prevailed
throughout this region, at the time of this visit the grasshoppers
that were present were of other species.

Parasitic flies (Sarcopha^a spp.) were present in great pro-
fusion and we believe that in this locality, as in western Montana
in 1917, these parasites were very effective in the prevention of what

SIXTEENTH ANNUAL EEPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 29

easily might have become a veritable plague of grasshoppers. As
may be inferred from the above, little damage from grasshoppers
occurred this season in the region extending through parts of Flat-
head, Missoula, and Sanders counties, where in 1917 serious losses
were occasioned.

In the upper part of the Bitter Root A'alley, in Ravalli County,
there was an outbreak of considerable importance which when inves-
tigated was found to be due to the warrior grasshopper mainly,
though some other species were sparingly represented. Other coun-
ties where grasshoppers were reported are Rosebud, Madison, Fer-
gus, Sweetgrass, Meagher, and Cascade.

The use of poison bran mash was recommended and it was
much used throughout the State ; the catching machine, designed
to catch the living grasshoppers, also was generally used.

A circular entitled "Grasshopper Control in Montana" was
issued early in the present season. This circular (No. 76) discusses
the subject of grasshopper control, gives the results of our experience
in the previous year, and contains seventeen new illustrations.

CUTWOEMS IN 1918

The ofifice received many complaints of cutworm troubles, com-
ing mainly in May and June. It was on the whole one of the worst
cutworm years we have had. Specimens sent in were in many
instances reared to the adult or moth condition and were found to
belong mainly to the species Euxoa ochro^aster Guen. The species
was present and quite injurious for upwards of two months, and in
this respect differed strikingly from Chorizagj^otis auxiliaris Grote,
the army cutworm which, when it comes, appears in excessive num-
bers in May and then suddenly disappears. This species, known as
the red-backed cutworm, has never been known to become exceed-
ingly abundant in Montana and take on the army habit. A peculiar-
ity is that it keeps under the ground more than the other species
and is more apt to cut plants off beneath the surface.

This insect was particularly troublesome in gardens, where
practically all kinds of cultivated plants were eaten. Many gardens
were injured for the season by cutworms destroying the stands
of such crops as carrots, spinach, beets, and radishes, which were
sown in the drill row, and cabbages, cucumbers, and others planted
or set in hills. The attacks were by no means confined to gardens.

30 ^r.o^•TAXA EXP?:KT:\ii:xT statiox

however, for many fields of spring; wheat and fall wheat, as well
as of other grains, were damaged.

This is one of the species about which we need nK^-e information
and research is now being conducted under the Adams fund.

THE COLORADO POTATO BEETLE

In view of the urgent feeling of necessity for producing as much
food material as possible this season, the imusual abundance of
the common potato beetle was especially noticeable. Early in the
season before the new plants had broken through the ground the
adult beetles, which had passd the winter in hil^ernation in the
soil, were much in evidence and when the young plants appeared
they were set upon at once. Many people in the State resorted to
hand picking and in \ie\\ of the desirability of prompt action and
the scarcity of insecticides it was probably the best thing that could
be done on small patches. Large fields are not generally attacked
by enough of the adults in the early spring to do serious harm to
the plants. This is explained by the fact that the beetles congregate
from the surrounding territory and the larger the field the larger the
number of plants for them to spread out upon. When the larvae
or slugs appeared later in the season it became evident that we
were confronted by an unusual abundance of these insects. Steps
had already been taken to aid the farmers in having available a
supply of poison and attention was called to the fact through the
press that arsenite of zinc, which was cheaper and entirely satis-
factory, was available in place of Paris green and arsenate of lead,
both of which contain chemicals of much importance in the war
industries.

A LITTLE KXOWIX STEM MAGGOT OF ^YMEAT

One of the most interesting features of the season's work was
the occurrence in May of a maggot in the stems of young winter
wheat plants at a number of widely separated points in Montana.
Specimens were sent in with inquiries and maggots were reared
in the insectary with the result that a very unusual fly was secured.
The specimens were examined bv Dr. J- ^I. Aldrich, a si)ecialist in
the Diptera, who found them to be Ili/lcivyia cerealis (Gillette), an
insect which Professor Gillette reared from wheat in Colorado and
about which he wrote very briefly in P>ulletin 94 of the Colorado
Experiment Station, December, 1904-, pp. 14, 15.

SIXTEENTH ANNUAL KEPORT OF STATE ENTU.MOLOCilST 31

It is too early to state how serious this pest may become but
it is certainly serious, and rather extensive damage was done this
year. Further studies on this insect are to be made next year if it
is present.

THE SUGAE-BEET WEBW/OEM

An outbreak of small striped caterpillars appeared about the
10th of August throughout the major part of the State east of the
continental divide. Letters and telegrams came in rapidly from
farmers and county agents. While no great amount of damage,
excepting in gardens, was finally done, the fact that the caterpillars
were generally scattered throughout grain fields, where the}^ were
feeding on weeds, caused much uneasiness among the farmers who
feared that when the weeds were gone the grain would be attacked.
The insects continued in abundance for about ten days. The species
concerned was found to be one which has been known as the sugar-
beet webworm {Loxoste§e stdcUcaJis L.). This insect is a very
general feeder. During this season it was reported on corn, cab-
bage, beets, alfalfa, gooseberry, and currant bushes, among cultivated
plants, but weeds were particularly mentioned and the Russian
thistle standing in grain crops was often spoken of. In view of the
shortage of hay and other feeds for stock in some parts of the State
some farmers were planning to cut Russian thistle as feed but were
prevented by the insects which ate down this weed completely. Pig-
weed (Chenopodiinii) , is a favorite also, and spinach, onions, celery,
and tomatoes have been mentioned by other writers as being food
plants.

These caterpillars were present in incredible numbers. They
moved about to some extent and devoured the vegetation as they
advanced. It was reported repeatedly that they were "eating every-
thing green." It was also reported to us that they had stopped
railway trains, which is entirely possible and would be due to the
crushing of their bodies on the rails, thereby making such a slippery
track that the locomotives could not pull the trains. Circular 42
of this station (June, 1914), entitled "The Sugar-beet Webworm"
by I. R. Parker was sent out very generally and the remedies pro-
posed were efifective.

It is not necessarily true that this insect will return next season.
Parasites are very effective in its control and judging by past

32 ■ MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION

experience in Montana it is not expected that the webworm will
be more than usually abundant in 1919.

THE FALSE CHINCH BUG
Again and again we have had reports of the supposed occurrence
of the chinch bug (Blissiis Jejicopterus Say) in various parts of
Montana but in nearly every case the insect concerned has been
the false chinch bug (.yi/sius ericae Schill). This very common
msect, a drawing of w^hich appears on the cover page of this report,
in size and habits resembles somewhat the very destructive true
chinch bug which w^e believe does not occur in Montana except
scatteringly in a few^ counties in north central Montana where it
has been present several years to our knowledge but without being
very injurious.

The false chinch bug w-as injurious mainly to garden plants
which w^ere attacked by great numbers of the insects clustering on
the terminal growth and sucking out the juices. Some measure of
alarm was felt by farmers as it was feared that extensive damage
to grain and corn might result from the excessive numbers of the
lalse chinch bug. No damage w^as done to field crops, however, so
lar as we can judge from the reports that reached us.

According to Milliken, ("Nysius ericae, The False Chinch Bug,"
in Journal of Agricultural Research. \^ol. XIII. No. 11, p. 571, 1918)
there are in Kansas six or seven generations of this insect per year.
This writer found that about a month is required to complete one
life cycle at a temperature of 79.78 degrees Fahrenheit. We cannot
state definitely how^ many generations there are in Montana but it
is clear there are several. These insects multiply with rapidity and
it is not surprising that such great numbers appear. We have often
found them congregated in large numbers on and under weeds
during hot days. The carpet weed, or purslane, is a favorite food
and shelter and often touching such a weed with the foot will cause
hundreds of these small insects to scurry away in all direc-
tions. Mr. J. R. Parker, while traveling in Flathead County on
August 5, 1910, found various plants, including potatoes, carrots,
raspberry bushes, turnips, and strawberry plants being damaged by
great numbers of these insects which clustered on the growing ter-
minals, causing them to wnlt. Potatoes w^ere particularly in danger
as the adults had settled upon them in great numbers. Beets are

SIXTEENTH ANNUAL EEPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 33

known to be a favorite food plant and in view of its great power
of multiplying it would not be surprising if the false chinch bug
were to become a serious pest of the sugar beet in Montana.

The control methods are much the same as for the true chinch
bug, and were brought to the attention of those who inquired.

ALFALFA WEEVIL QUAKANTINE

An efifort was made last December (1917) by growers of salt
grass hay in Utah to induce us to suspend or modify our quarantine
of hays in force because of the alfalfa weevil, and allow salt grass
hay to be shipped in for use as packing in place of excelsior. It
became evident in the course of the correspondence that we did not
possess sufficient information to deal intelligently with the situation
and that what we needed was first-hand facts. Accordingly a con-
ference of representatives from the various interested western States
was called by Governor Bamberger of Utah. Representatives were
present from Colorado, Idaho, California, and Montana. We met
at Salt Lake on June 20th and 21st and were welcomed by Governor
Bamberger in the Senate Chamber of the Utah State Capitol, fol-
lowine which a chairman and secretarv were elected. In the after-
noon of the first day we were taken on a tour of inspection into the
territory where salt grass is grown and the method of handling it
was explained. It had been represented to us previously that no
alfalfa was grown in the flats where this salt grass abounds, but in
the course of the afternoon's trip it was found that on the drier
spots alfalfa was being grown and this in close proximity to where
salt grass was cut and stacked. Alfalfa weevils were here in abun-
dance in and near the alfa-lfa fields. It was very evident that the
weevils could easily make their way to the neighborhood of the
stacks where, as the salt grass is baled like ordinary hay, the weevils
could easily be included in the bales. The delegates agreed, there-
fore, that it was not safe to allow the importation of this material
and it appearaed for a time that nothing could be done to relieve the
situation for Utah. It is quite possible that much of the salt grass
hay is cut in localities remote from where alfalfa is grown, and
conceivably from such localities the hay could be packed with safety
to our interests, but there was no way to distinguish in a regulation
between safe and dangerous localities.

During the discussion at the Senate Chamber the next day it

34 MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION

was learned from Mr. Keeves of the Bureau of Entomology that
the alfalfa weevil becomes inactive when the temperature falls below
(iO deo^rees F. A considerable amount of research along this line
liad lieen done by the Bureau. This served as a suggestion to the
ti nfercnoe that the salt grass might be raked, stacked, baled, and
shipped with safety between October Tst and April 1st. provided
this was done only on days when the temperature fell below 60
degrees. After extended deliberations the following resolution was
passed :

Resolved, That the material known locally in Utah as "Salt Grass Pack-
ing" be admitted into the states now maintaining a quarantine against alfalfa,
straw, and other hay from Utah because of the presence of the alfalfa weevil,
provided that such material be cut only between the dates of October 1 and
April 1, and that the raking, shocking, stacking, baling and shipping of this
material, as a commercial product, be allowed only after the maximum daily
temperature of the season has fallen below 60 degrees F.

Provided, further, that a certificate from the Crop Pest Inspector of
the State of Utah, showing that these requirements have been met, accompany
each shipment.

Provided, further, that no salt grass packing shall be held over in the
field from one season to another.

Be it further resolved. That the use of such salt grass hay as a packing
material in shipments of fruits, crockery, and other materials be permitted,
provided it has been cut and removed from the field between October 1 and
April 1, as above specified, and stored in warehouses renote from alfalfa fields,
alfalfa hay, or other suspected materials.

Upon returning to Montana Mr. A. L. Strausz, State horticultur-
ist, and the writer recommended that our quarantine be modified to
agree w'itli the resolution and to cover new territory known to be
infested with the weevils and also to cover a change in the require-
ments regarding emigrants' movables, as recommended by the con-
ference. Tlie quarantine as now in force, therefore, reads as follows:

QUARANTINE NO. 4

WHEREAS, It has become known to me that an injurious insect, popularly
called the alfalfa weevil, and scientifically known, as "Phytonomus posticus,"
exists and is dangerously injurious to alfalfa in the State of Utah, and in certain
counties in the State of Idaho, to-wit: Bingham, Cassia, Bear Lake, Oneida,
Bannock, Franklin, Power and Payette; and in certain counties in the State
of Wyoming, to-wit: Unida and Lincoln; and in a certain county in the State
of Colorado, to-wit: Delta:

SIXTEENTH AXNTJAL EEPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 35

NOW, THEREFORE, I, S. V. Stewart, Governor of the State of Montana,
under and by virtue of the authority conferred upon me by Chapter 61 of the
Session Laws of the Thirteenth Legislative Assembly, do hereby declare and
proclaim a quarantine against the said State of Utah, and said counties of
Bingham, Cassia, Bear Lake, Oneida, Bannock, Franklin, Power and Payette
in the State of Idaho; and the counties of Unida and Lincoln in the State of
"Wyoming; and the county of Delta in the State of Colorado, and forbid the
importation into Montana of the following agricultural products and other
articles, excepting under conditions and regulations as sx)€cified:

1. Alfalfa hay and other hays of all kinds and cereal straws, excepting the
material known locally in Utah as salt grass packing hay, which shall
be admitted into Montana provided that such material be cut only
between the dates of October 1 and April 1, and that the raking, shock-
ing, stacking, baling or shipping of this material as a commercial product
be allowed only after the maximum daily temperature of the season has
fallen below sixty degrees Fahrenheit.

Provided further that a certificate be required from the Crop Pest
Inspector of the State of Utah showing that these requirements have
been met, which certificate shall accompany each shipment. Provided
further that no salt grass packing hay shall be held over in the field
from one season to another. The use of salt grass hay as a packing
material in shipments of fruit, crockery and other materials is; permitted,
provided said salt grass has been cut and removed from the field between
October 1 and April 1 as above specified and stored in warehouses
removed from alfalfa fields, alfalfa hay or other suspected materials.

2. Fresh fruits and vegetables, exclusive of potatoes, excepting under the
following regulations:

a. Shipments for Montana to be made only from points designated by
the recognized State Pest Inspection Officers of the State shipping
into Montana, said officers to notify the State Horticulturist of the
State of Montana by registered mail or by telegraph of the designa-
tion of all shipping points in the aforesaid State of Utah, or counties
of Bingham, Cassia, Bear Lake, Oneida, Bannock, Franklin, Power
and Payette in Idaho; or counties of Unida and Lincoln in Wyoming;
and the county of Delta in Colorado; said notification to be sent and
its receipt to be acknowledged before any shipments are made to the
State of Montana from said designated points.

b. Shipments to be repacked from orchard or field boxes into new, clean
boxes or other fresh containers.

c. All wagons or other conveyances used in hauling to the place where
repacking is conducted to be kept free from alfalfa hay or other hays,

straw, and all other means of contamination.

d. All packing houses to be at all times free of alfalfa hay, other hays,
straw, and other means of contamination.

e. Each lot shipment shall bear an official certificate of the State from
which the shipment originates stating that it has been inspected and
passed in compliance with, these regulations and stating where it was
repacked and inspected.

3. Potatoes unless accompanied by an official certificate signed by the
recognized State Pest Inspection Officer of the State from wbich such
shipments of potatoes originate, setting forth that the potatoes have

36 MONTANA EXPERENIENT STATION

been passed over a screen, placed in fresh, clean sacks and packed in
cars that arc free of alfalfa haj- or other means of contamniaton.

All nursery stock, unless accompanied by special certificate setting
forth that such nursery stock has been fumigated for the alfalfa weevil
in an airtight enclosure subsequent to being boxed, baled or packed for
shipment, with cyanide of potassium or cyanide of sodium at the rate
of one ounce to each one hundred cubic feet of enclosed space.

That no shipment of household or emigrants' movables originating
in any State or county designated as infested with the alfalfa weevil
shall be brought into the State of Montana by any common carrier, per-
son or persons, unless such shipments be accompanied by a copy of a
sworn statement made in duplicate by .the owner or shipper after the
following forms on blanks which will be furnished to applicants by the
State Horticulturist of Montana. Copy No. 1 to be mailed to the State
Horticulturist, Missoula, Montana, and Copy No. 2 to be delivered to
the common carrier agent, with a special certificate appended, to attach
to waybill.

State of )

\ ss.
County of J

I hereby solemnly swear that I was present during the ])reparation
for shipment of the household or emigrants' goods which this affi-
davit accompanies; that the goods were delivered to the

at on

(Eailroad) (Station)

constituting (less than) a carload

(Month, day, year)

(If carload, write initials and car No. here)

to be shipped to

(Name of consignee)

at via

(Destination) (Give initials of other lines)

that no nursery stock, vegetables or fruit is included in the shipment
and that no hay or straw (except as provided for under Part No. 1
of this Quarantine) is included for packing material, or any other
purpose, except as food necessary for the livestock in transit to the
Montana State line; that the shipment is made up of the following:
Household goods, farm implements, tools, harness, farm wagons, auto-
mobiles, .stands of bees, livestock (draw a line through items not

included)

(Specify)

SIXTEENTH ANNUAL BEPOET OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST

feed for animals in transit

(Specify kinds and amount of each)

and „ ^

(Specify any items not included in previous classification)

(Shipper or owner)

Subscribed and sworn to before me

a Notary Public in and for the State of

County of this the day of

19

(Notary Public)

My commission expires , 19

The special certificate from the owner or shipper to be appended to
Copy No. 2 of the sworn statement shall be after the following form:

I hereby agree to observe explicitly the requirements of the Mon-
tana Quarantine Order with regard to hay or straw (included as stock
feed for use before reaching the Montana State line) ; household and
emigrants' goods and other materials, and hereby certify that I have
mailed this day one copy of the foregoing affidavit to the State
Horticulturist, i'Ossoula, Montana.

(Signature)

6. All railway shipments of livestock unless shipped in cars that are free
of alfalfa hay, all other hays and cereal straws, throughout all that por-
tion of the journey that is within the State of Utah, and counties of
Bingham, Cassia, Bear Lake, Oneida, Bannock, Franklin, Power and
Payette in Idaho; and counties of Unida and Lincoln in Wyoming; and
the county of Delta in Colorado.

All Horticultural Inspectors of the State of Montana are hereby instructed
and required to refuse admission into the State of Montana of all such articles
as are herein designated from the said State of Utah; and counties of Bingham,
•Cassia, Bear Lake, Oneida, Bannock, Franklin. Power and Payette in Idaho;
and counties of Unida and Lincoln in W\-oming; and the county of Delta in
Colorado, except under the conditions herein enumerated. If any such articles
as are hereinbefore listed be shipped into the State of Montana in violation oi
this Quarantine they must be at once destroyed or returned to the shipper at
his expense.

3S MONTANA EXPEEI]\EENT STATION

This Quarantine shall not be construed to interfere with shipments of
products to the Yellowstone National Park over the Oregon Short Line Railroad,
and to Idaho points via Montana over the Gilmore and Pittsburg Railroad.

This Quarantine shall take effect a.nd be in force on and after the fifteenth
day of July, A. D. 1918.

It is specifically understood and intended that this Quarantine Proclamation
shall revoke all previous Proclamations on this subject by me made.

IN "WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my ha,nd and caused
the Great Seal of the State to be affixed. DONE at the
(Seal) City of Helena, the Capital, this the sixth day of July, in

the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred eighteen.

S. V. STEWART.
By the Governor:

C. T. STEWART,

Secretary of State.

WHITE PINE BLISTER RUST QUARANTINE

An exceedingly destructive disease of pine is prevalent in some
parts of the East which, if introduced into Montana, would almost
certainly do great damage to our forests of pine. This disease has
not yet reached Montana. It is hoped that by prohibiting the
importation of pines and of currants and gooseberries, which are
alternate hosts of the disease, white pine blister rust may be delayed
or even entirely prevented from gaining admittance into Montana.
The quarantine follows :

QUARANTINE PROCLAMATION

Whereas, The fact has been determined that a dangerously injurious disease
known as the White Pine Blister Rust (Peridermimn strobi Kleb.) exists and
is prevalent in portions of the eastern part of the United States as far west
as and including Minnesota; and

Whereas, There is danger of the introduction of this disease into the great
white pine forests of the State of Montana through shipments of five-leaved
pines and currants and gooseberry plants:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, S. Y. Stewart, Governor of the State of Montana,
under and by virtue of the authority conferred upon me by Chapter 61 of the
Session Laws of the Thirteenth Legislative Assembly, do hereby declare and
proclaim that a quarantine be and hereby is established against the importation
into the State of Montana of white pine (Pinus strobus), stone pine (P. cembra),
limber pine (P. flexilis) and any other five-leaved pines, and currants and
gooseberry plants (Ribes and Grossularia) from any part of the United States

SIXTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 39

east of and including the States of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas and
Louisiana.

All quarantine guardians and deputy State horticultural inspectors are
hereby instructed and required to refuse admission into Montana of any ship-
ments of any of the five-leaved pines above mentioned, and currants and goose-
berry plants. It shall be the duty of the deputy horticultural inspectors, or
other quarantine guardians, to deport immediately such shipments or destroy
them by burning. All expenses incurred in deporting or destroying such ship-
ments shall be paid by the consignor.

Any person who sells or offers for sale within the State of Montana pine
seedlings, currants and gooseberry plants from the above quarantined area in
violation of this quarantine order shall be liable to prosecution under the State
laws of Montana.

It is specifically understood and intended that this quarantine proclamation
shall revoke all previous proclamations on this subject by me made.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused
the Great Seal of the State to be affixed.

DONE at the City of Helena, the Capital, this the third
(Seal) day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine

hundred seventeen.

(Signed) S. V. STEWART.
By the Governor:

C. T. Stewart,

Secretarv of State.

BARBERRY QUARANTINE

For many years it has been known that the common barberry
bush serves as an alternate host for stem rust of wheat, probably
the most destructive of all plant diseases. A law passed in Denmark
in 1903, prohibiting the growing of barberry bushes, has had such
remarkable results in controlling rust in the grain fields of that
country that plant pathologists in the United States have been
making extensive studies to determine whether similar legislation
would not solve the wheat rust problem in the Great Plains section
of this country. As a result of their findings there was launched
early in 1918 a campaign for barberry eradication in our great
wheat-growing States. As a preliminary to this campaign of eradi-
cation, a quarantine prohibiting the importation of barberry bushes
into Montana was issued, which reads as follows :

40 -MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION

QUARANTINE PROCLAMATION
AVHEREAS, the fact has been detcnuinod that a dangerously injurious
plant disease known as AMieat Rust is disseminated and carried by means of
Barberry bushes (Berberls vulgaris), both of the green and purple form; and

WHEREAS, there is danger of the introduction of this disease into the great
wheat fields of Montana through shipments of said Barberry bushes and a further
dissemination of said wheat rust through the agency of Barberry bushes;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, S. V. Stewart. Governor of the State of Montana,
under and by virtue of the authority conferred upon me by Chapter 61 of the
Session Laws of the Thirteenth Legislative Assem'bly, do hereby declare and
proclaim that a quarantine be and hereby is established against the importation
into the State of Montana of Barberry bushes (Berberis vulgaris) and plants
from any point without the said State of Montana.

All quarantine guardians and deputy State horticultural inspectors are
hereby instructed and required to refuse admission into Montana of any ship-
ments of Barberry bushes (Berberis vulgaris) or plants. It shall be the duty of
the deputy horticultural inspectors, or other quarantine guardians, to deport
immediately such shipments or destroy them by burning. All expenses incurred
in deporting or destroying such shipments shall be paid by the consignor.

Any person who sells or offers for sale, in the State of Montana, Barberry
bushes (Berberis vulgaris) or plants contrary to this quarantine order shall be
liable to prosecution under the laws of the State of Montana.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and
caused the Great Seal of the State to be affixed.'

DONE at the City of Helena, the Capital, this the twenty^
fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand
nine hundred eighteen.

(Signed): S.V.STEWART.
By the Governor:

C. T. STEWART,

Secretary of State.

UNIFORM CONTROL METHODS FOR COUNTY AGENTS
To meet the conditions in the counties, to give thorough and
up-to-date information in regard to insect pests, as well as to bring
about uniformity in instructions given out by the various county
agents, this office during the past year has entered upon a project
for furnishing to all county agents mimeographed sheets of instruc-
tions concerning our more important pests. These have been fur-
nished to all of the county agents' offices, bound in a good loose-leaf

SIXTEENTH ANNUAL REPOKT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 41

binder. The book is given the title of "Standard Control Methods,
Insect Pests of Montana." Following are the introductory para-
graphs of the book :

STANDARD CONTROL METHODS FOR THE MORE IMPORTANT

INSECT PESTS OF MONTANA
The purpose of this loose-leaf notebook is to facilitate the work
of the county agents in the State of Montana and to bring about a
reasonable degree of uniformity in the recommendations for the
control of insect pests made in the several counties. It would be
too much to expect the county agents to be especially informed in
all the branches of technical agriculture and this is particularly true
with such subjects as entomology, plant pathology, veterinary
science, etc. This book contains the experience of the entomologists
of the Department of Entomology, accumulated through a consider-
able number of years, and the information contained is in harmony
with the most recent publications. It is our purpose to revise it
from time to time, sending out new sheets and recalling old ones,
as progress in entomology is made and the changes become desirable.

It is intended that this book shall contain the State standard
methods and a greater degree of uniformity is therefore expected
in the recommendations which we make and a greater degree of
accuracy, also, in the information which we give to farmers regard-
ing the habits of such insects. The need of greater uniformity will
be apparent when it is realized that in the past county agents, who
have been trained in widely separated states, have been called upon
to make recommendations for the control of insects with which they
are not very familiar and species which in many instances have
been recently the subject of research in one state or another.

The various sheets are grouped by subjects and the various
subjects are separated by tab-labeled sheets which will facilitate
llie filing of new sheets and the everv-dav use of the book. The
lieadings of the book are as follows:

Insects of Grain and Corn
Insects of Field and Root Crops
Insects of Grasses and Forage Crops.
Insects of Garden Crops
Insects of Small Fruits

42 MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION

Insects of Tree Fruits

Insects of Shade Trees and Ornamentals

Parasites on Domestic Animals

Insects Affecting- the Health of J\Ian and Animals

Household Insects

Insects in Stored Seeds and Foods.

HOW COUNTY AGENTS SHOULD HANDLE INSECT PROBLEMS

If the insect is recognized beyond a doubt, recommend the
standard method of control which has been worked out for Montana
conditions and is given in this book.

If the insect is not readily recognized, secure specimens and
send them to the Department of Entomology at the Agricultural
College. We will immediately determine them and advise control
methods. Specimens to be sent through the mail should be enclosed
in a tin box, together with a quantity of their food plant. In most
cases no dirt should be put into the box, nor it is necessary to punch
holes in the box. Never send insects in letters.

In case any insect becomes unusually abundant or is doing
wide-spread injury, notify the Department of Entomology at once.
In most cases we will be able to send a man to demonstrate control
methods and to aid in organizing a control campaign.

ORGANIZATION

Mr. H. L. Seamans, who has held the position of assistant
State entomologist, resigned to take a position as field assistant in
the Bureau of Entomology on May 30th, 1917, and Mr. A. L. Strand,
a graduate in entomology from Montana State College, became
assistant on June 1st, 1917.

]\Ir. Strand went into military service in June, 1918, but his
position is held for him. This position has been unoccupied since
his departure. Because of the pressure on our fund, arrangements
were made with the Bureau of Entomology and Mr. Strand tem-
porarily vacated his position as assistant State entomologist in 1918
and accepted an appointment as field assistant with headquarters at
Bozeman. In this position he continued to do work that was very
similar to what he had done as assistant State entomologist. This
arrangement continued until Mr. Strand went into the military
service.

Upon the departure of both Mr. Seamans and Mr. Strand, to

SIXTEEXTII ANNUAL REPOET OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST -id

enable us to meet a difficult situation, Mr. J. R. Parker, assistant
entomologist in the Experiment Station, usually occupied with
research work, was temporarily removed from his regular duties
and placed in charge of the State work for the control of insects and
also of rodents. This arrangement was continued during the critical
period when insect pests were most injurious.

COOPERATION WITH BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY, UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

By act of Congress, under provision of the Food Production
Act to stimulate agricultural production, the Bureau of Entomology
secured funds which enabled it to place in the field a number of
extension entomologists. This' work was carried on in cooperation
with the agricultural colleges and experiment stations and under
definite project agreements. Montana was fortunate in securing the
services of two representatives of the Bureau to demonstrate the
control of insects aft'ecting cereal and forage crops. These men
were placed under the direction of the State Entomologist and
were of great assistance in the campaign against the wheat stem
maggot and in demonstrating grasshopper control. A representative
of the Bureau of Entomology also spent several months in Montana
<]emonstrating the most approved methods of beekeeping.

This cooperation with the Bureau of Entomology was a very
satisfactory one for Montana, as we were enabled to do much more
than our limited funds would otherwise have allowed. In Montana
at least there can be no doubt that the purpose of the Food Produc-
tion Act was accomplished in that thousands of dollars' worth of
agricultural products were sa\'ed from destruction by insect pests.

NEEDS AND PLANS FOR THE COMING TWO YEARS

No important changes or enlargements in the scope of the work
of the State entomologist's ofifice are contemplated for the coming
two years. Our work under this fund is marked out for us by the
developments of each season. No 3^ear passes without some one
or several pests becoming destructive and it is necessary to have
an assistant in the field and to pay his traveling expenses. It is
also necessary to conduct minor investigations at the laboratory in
Bozeman and to verify and supplement these studies by observations
m the fields w^here the insects are, wherever in the State this may be.

The sum of money which this office uses is surprisingly small

4i MONTANA EXPEEIM|ENT STATION

compared with the amount of saving- to the agricultural interests of
the State that is effected. During the past two years we have had
several very important pest outbreaks. In 1917 there was the most
extensive and destructive grasshopper outbreak that has been known
in the State for upwards of twenty-five years. We had serious cut-
worm troubles in both 1917 and 1918 and in 1918 we had webworms
by the millions in many counties. In 1918 we had very extensive
troubles from the false chinch bug. In both of these years we have
had many pests of lesser importance here and there throughout the
State. The value of the crops saved by the activities of the State
entomologist's office during these outbreaks was many times greater
than the total appropriations received.

Our expenses, per year, for the coming biennium are estimated
to be as follows : ,

Salary of asssistant $1,500

Traveling expenses - 800

Labor 500

Supplies and laboratory expenses 700

Total $3,500