53.9 527 NO. 21 vj 200 JANUARY, 1927 Montana Insect Pests for 1925 and 1926 The Twenty- First Report of the State Entomologist of Montana BY R. A. Cooley The Beet Leae-Hopper and the Cukly-Top Disease That It Causes (From Bulletin 155, Utah Agricultural Experiment Station) university op Montana STATE PUBLICATIONS COLLECTION AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BOZEMAN, MONTANA OPT 3 1 ?flf)7 MONTANA STATE LIBRARY 1515 E. 6th AVE. HELENA, MONTANA 59620 Montana State Library 3 0864 1004 0547 4 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL Bozeman, Montana, December 20, 1927. To His Excellency. John E. Erickson, Governor, Helena, Montana. My dear Sir: I take pleasure in handing you herewith my twenty-first report as State Entomologist of Montana, covering the calendar years 1925 and 1926. As is our custom this will be printed in the bulletin series of the Agricultural Experiment Station. The work of the State Entomologist is supported by funds entirely separate from those of the State College and the Experiment Station. The primary purposes of the report are to review the activities of the past two years and to present the needs of the department. It is pointed out that on $500, which is all that was appropriated two years ago, the work cannot be done. The sum appropriated did not make it possible to em- ploy a man in this kind of service, and beyond doubt the serious situation now existing in western Montana, with the Mormon cricket infesting 250,- 000 acres and a known loss of $120,000 sustained by the farmers, is a direct result. It is earnestly hoped that the present, legislature will make suitable provision for this work. Very respectfully yours, R. A. COOLEY. State Entomologist. The Twenty-First Report of the State Entomologist of Montana ORGANIZATION FOR INSECT PEST CONTROL With the laws now in force in Montana and many of the county agents and the Experiment Station conducting research on pest problems that need attention, the State is well organ- ized for the handling of pest outbreaks and for advising on the numerous cases of minor damage by insects. However, at the present time Montana is not providing a sufficient sum to make this organization effective. The legislature of 1925 provided a fund of only $500, which was not enough to employ a man for the control work demanded by the State laws. An appeal was made to the Extension Service and Mr. W. B. Mabee was appointed on half time and took up his duties on June 1, 1926. He was able to conduct the extensive corre- spondence concerning insect pests and to respond to some calls from different parts of the State. One-half of his time is paid for by the Experiment Station and he is obliged to devote that amount of time to research work. Mr. Mabee did not go on duty until it was too late to put on a campaign for the destruction of the Mormon cricket. That pest continued to spread during 1926 and now covers some 250,000 acres. Even if Mr. Mabee devotes all of his time to this one problem during the months when effective work can be done — May, June, and July — he can not begin to do what will be needed in 1927. It will be necessary to appoint some temporary assistants. If he were to spend all of his time on this one project, other parts of the State would have to get along without service ; and the correspondence with persons who apply by letter for assistance would either have to go unan- swered or be handled by men in the Experiment Station who are paid for other duties. In every year since 1917 there has been an insect pest out- break of real importance in some part of Montana, so the prob- 4 MONTANA BULLETIN 200 abilities are that with the coming of the spring of 1927 there will be some new problem of major importance somewhere in the State. A man on half-time in the Extension Service can be of some assistance but he can not begin to handle the work alone. Moreover, the work of controlling insect pests entails other expenses besides those incident to travel, such as clerical help, books, laboratory supplies and equipment, as well as labor in the laboratory. At the same time that the work on Mormon crickets is in progress it will be necessary to carry on also the work on the beet leaf-hopper and on mosquitoes. With the present force it is impossible to do even the cricket work as it should be done. We can not expect the funds supplied from the counties to do more than purchase the supplies and pay laborers where the cricket work is to be done. In order to have an effective program it will be necessary for the State to provide sufficient funds so that experienced men may be employed to direct the work. The major reasons why an adequate fund is needed for the State Entomologist are given more in detail in the following pages. THE MORMON CRICKET IN WESTERN MONTANA The Mormon cricket (Anabrus simplex Hald.) has been steadily becoming more abundant and injurious in western Montana for some years, and the situation became alarming in 1926. Some farmers have left the country on account of it and a large acreage in the Camas Prairie region, which nor- mally would have been planted to wheat in the fall of 1926, was not planted at all. Through the county agents we have the information that this cricket did damage in 1926 to the extent of $120,000 and that it has now spread and increased in numbers until some 250,000 acres are infested. The year 1926 was by far the worst year, and if conditions continue to get worse during 1927 the situation will become appalling. The Northern Pacific Railway Company, noticing that their load- ings had fallen off in this section, investigated and, finding that the Mormon cricket was responsible, took the matter up with the State Entomologist. It was necessary to inform this TWENTY-FIRST REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 5 company that this office had been powerless to cope with the situation as the last legislature had failed to provide for the employment of a man to render this kind of service. The Mormon cricket first appeared locally and in small numbers. The area now very seriously infested embraces parts of two counties, and the neighboring counties are threatened. It is a typical case of a situation which might have been han- dled if taken at the start. It should have been "nipped in the bud." It is a typical case also of the necessity for having a spe- cialist about the State sufficiently in touch with developing conditions. It is the function of this office, so far as possible, to prevent the occurrence of such serious outbreaks, as well as to aid in meeting as best we can such unavoidable outbreaks as do occur. A large amount of Indian lands, under the supervision of the branch office of the Indian Service located at Dixon, is in- volved in the infested area, and in preparation for next year we have taken up the matter of providing a sufficient fund. Through Congressman Evans we have communicated with the Indian office in Washington and have asked that a fund of $5000 be furnished to be used the same as the funds derived from the county insect pest act, in doing the actual work and furnishing the supplies for destroying the crickets. From the counties concerned we may expect a total fund of $10,000. It is expected of this office that men will be pro- vided to direct the work and make a campaign effective. MOSQUITOES Mosquitoes are commonly looked upon as minor nuisances, which, though they annoy, must be endured. In some parts of the world, however, either because by their numbers they have an injurious effect on property values, or because they transmit human diseases, such as malaria or yellow fever, major projects for the control of mosquitoes have been launched. In the Milk River Valley in northern Montana mosquitoes have been very abundant and troublesome for some years past. A preliminary survey of the conditions existing there has shown 6 .MONTANA BULLETIN 200 that the excessive abundance of mosquitoes is due primarily to conditions growing out of the practice of irrigating blue- joint grass, alfalfa, and other crops. The soil is heavy and the water is slow to seep away so that, following irrigation, pools are left which create ideal breeding places. In irrigating blue- joint grass it is a common practice to allow the water to flood the fields for long periods, resulting in the breeding of mos- quitoes on a gigantic scale. So abundant have the mosquitoes become in that district that they now amount to a very serious problem for the resi- dents of town and country alike. Clouds of them follow the stock, dairy production is practically impossible, all stock rais- ing is interfered with, labor both by horse and man alike is made very difficult, and normal property values are interfered with to the amount of millions of dollars. Residents have told us that at times it is impossible to breathe because the insects hover around the face in tremendous numbers and are drawn in with the breath. Veils are often worn when it is necessary to be out of doors and at times there is such a cloud of mos- quitoes about the head that it is impossible to see clearly through the veils. A number of other localities in the State are similarly af- flicted with mosquitoes. It is highly desirable that steps be taken to relieve the situ- ation as far as possible. In this connection the services of both the Experiment Station and the Extension Entomologist are required. It is the function of the former to conduct studies and find remedies and of the latter to conduct surveys of ex- isting conditions and to cooperate with the residents in putting remedies into effect. In the case of mosquitoes, methods of control that apply under many kinds of conditions have been worked out. Before a thoroughly effective plan of control can be put into effect under conditions such as those found in the Milk River Valley, some further work by the Experiment Station is necessary. There is much that may be done now by the Extension En- tomologist, however, with the knowledge that we have. The general remedies that are used in the control of mosquitoes are oiling of pools and removal of standing water TWENTY-FIRST REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 7 by drainage. There are doubtless some localities where the ap- plication of these remedies will afford relief, but it will take the services of a person familiar with such work to direct the operation and particularly to see in advance where such methods will or will not be effective. THE SUGAR-BEET LEAF-HOPPER The sugar-beet leaf-hopper (Eutettix tenella Baker) is without doubt the most serious insect enemy of the sugar beet, and is of importance mainly because it is the means and the only means of transmitting the very destructive disease known as "curly top" or "curly leaf." It has caused periodic losses to the sugar-beet growers and to the sugar companies of the western states amounting to many millions of dollars. So serious has the disease become in some of the western states that the industry is seriously affected. Many beet sugar fac- tories, costing from one million to two million dollars or more, have been put out of business and closed. Some have been dis- mantled and the expensive equipment moved elsewhere. In this connection an interesting situation has developed during the last two years in Montana. Some of the companies that have found it unprofitable to carry on their industry where they are now located are looking to Montana as a field where new factories can be established. In the spring of 1926 a rep- resentative of a large company called on this office for assist- ance in determining whether or not it would be wise to come into the Missoula district with a factory. During July and August a survey was made by one of the Experiment Station entomologists and we were able to bring to the company's at- tention facts that led to the conclusion that the beet leaf-hop- per would not be a factor to prevent success here. This com- pany is coming in with a factory. The survey referred to showed that this insect is present in the district where the company is to operate but not in great numbers, and a study of the natural conditions led to the con- clusion that probably a profitable industry can be established in spite of the leaf-hoppers. The conditions are very different from those in the other western states where there has been trouble. S MONTANA BULLETIN 200 It will be the duty of the State Entomologist to conduct further studies on this insect as it is important to know whether the insects find favorable breeding conditions in western Mon- tana and whether they can survive our winters. It is highly desirable to do everything possible to help this company to suc- ceed. If this factory succeeds, others are likely to follow in nearby counties and the establishment of a successful beet sugar industry in western Montana will be of the greatest im- portance to all kinds of industry in that section of the State. In view of the fact that Montana is sure to be looked over carefully for favorable places for locating beet sugar factories, it will be necessary for this office to extend the survey over all parts of the State and have available the information that is needed. The actual facts are what is needed as it would be very unprofitable for the beet sugar companies and for the beet growers alike to have factories come in and prove unsuccessful. The United States Bureau of Entomology, through its branch laboratory at Twin Falls, Idaho, under the charge of Mr. Walter Carter, is willing to cooperate in making the survey of Montana for the leaf-hopper. In fact the work was made possible last season only by what they contributed. It was necessary, however, to match what they put in, about dollar for dollar, and to furnish the entomologist to do the work. CORRESPONDENCE A large proportion of the inquiries for information on in- sects in Montana is handled by the county agents, of which there are at this writing twenty-eight in as many counties. So far as possible the information for answering such local ques- tions is furnished to the county agents by this office. The agents are provided with what are called "Pest Control Books," which are made up of mimeographed sheets giving the up-to- date information on a large number of topics. A large number of inquiries come directly to Bozeman. The maps on page 9 show the number of subjects on which inquiry was made, and their point of origin in the years 1925 and 1926. Each dot represents a separate subject but the num- ber of dots does not show the number of letters received as in TWENTY-FIRST REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 9 many cases there was more than one letter on the same subject. It will be observed that the correspondence received in this office was rather evenly distributed throughout the State. Correspondence 1925 Correspondence 1926 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST'S OFFICE Each dot shows a separate subject at the point of origin of the inquiry about insect pests. The dots do not represent the number of tetters, as in some instances more than one letter was received on the same subject. 10 MONTANA BULLETIN 200 INSECT PESTS OF 1925 AND 1926 W. Bruce Mabee, Extension Entomologist, Asst. Entomologist in the Experiment Station During the past biennium climatic and other conditions have been such that the State has been unusually free from the usual insect out- breaks. Outbreaks of cutworms and grasshoppers were very limited in extent, the Mormon cricket being the only outbreak of major importance. This insect during the past season doubled the area it formerly occupied, now covering some 250,000 acres and causing damage amounting to over $120,000. This situation is discussed more in detail elsewhere in this paper. The correspondence of this department is continually growing, as is illustrated by the accompanying maps, and it seems to be well known by the people of the State that they can receive information and suggestions on the control of insects from this department. During 1925, 72 different species of insects were sent in, while in 1926 there were 88 species received. The tables give the complete list of insects of 1925 and 1926, together with the locality from which they were sent and the date the complaint was made. Common Name Alfalfa thrips Tarnished plant bug Crane fly larvae Black crickets Army cutworms Alfalfa nematode Pea aphis Blister beetles ALFALFA Scientific Name Frankliniella tritici Fitch tt n ti Lygus pratensis Linn. Tipulidae Gryllus sp. Chorizagrotis auxiliaris Grote Tylenchus dipsaci Kubn. Acyrtho siphon pisi Mord. Epicauta maculata Say " Date Locality 1925 1926 Ashland June 25 Miles City July 14 Ronan Aug. 11 Ronan Oct. 1 Glasgow Apr. 20 Jordan May 3 Big Horn Val. May 24 Carbon Co. June 16 Thornp. Falls June 30 During the two years there were only nine complaints of insects injuring alfalfa, four in 1925 and five in 1926, and none of these was of a very serious nature. The most alarming were two reports of alfalfa weevil which upon investi- gation proved to be some insects of comparatively little importance that were mis- taken for the weevil. TWENTY-FIRST REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 11 Common Name Sheep ticks Mosquitoes Bot flies Ticks Spotted fever ticks Ground squirrel ticks Mites ANIMAL PARASITES Scientific Name Melophagus ovinum Linn. Culicidae Hypoderma lineatum DeVill Haemaphysalis cinnabarina Koch. Dcrmacentor andersoni Stiles Isodes angustus Neum. Sp. undetermined Date Locality 1925 1926 Shonkin Mar. 4 Collins July 18 Chinook Apr. 30 Malta Baird May 19 Feb. 17 Plentywood Mar. 16 Danvers Apr. 28 Belmont May 7 Kalispell May 7 Reed Point Oct. 22 There were the usual complaints of sheep ticks, poultry mites, and other an- noying pests of live stock, but by far the most important problem under this head- ing is the mosquito situation in the northeastern part of the State. Centering around Chinook and Malta, mosquitoes present a tremendous economic problem during the summer. They become so abundant that labor can not be secured to work in the hay fields; the milk production of dairy cattle drops to a minimum; and little chickens are even killed by them. If an appropriation is secured from the present legislature, this is one of the problems that, will receive attention. Codling moth Blister mite Oyster-shell scale Apple aphis Woolly aphis APPLES Carpocapsa pomonella Linn. Eriophyes pyri Pgst. Lepidosaphes ulmi Linn. Aphis pomi DeG. it tt << Schizoneura lanigera Hausmann Cottony maple scale Pulvinaria vitis Linn. Missoula Missoula Missoula Missoula Kalispell Livingston Missoula Dixon Lablo Rollins Missoula Hamilton Victor Boulder Victor Hamilton Mar. 21 Apr. 12 Mar. 19 Mar. 22 Jan. 11 Jan. 19 Mar. 17 May 29 June 24 Sept. 27 Mar. 22 May 7 June 14 Apr. 20 Sept. 2 July 7 Judging from the small number of complaints (16) of damage to apples, no outstanding injury was done to this crop during the last two years. Of course there were about the normal number of reports of codling moth, blister mite, vari- ous scale insects, and aphids, as shown in the table. A very satisfactory crop was harvested this season (1926). 12 MONTANA BULLETIN 200 BARLEY In 1925 only one report was received of insects injuring barley. About the middle of May one grower at Warren reported that wireworms destroyed about one-third of his crop. There were no reports during 1926. CURRANTS Common Name Scientific Name Currant fruit fly Epochra canadensis F. Loew. Imported currant borer Synanthedon tipuliformis Linn. Currant aphis Myzus ribis Linn. Plant lice Aphididae Cottony maple scale Pulvinaria vitis Linn. Cone borer or mite Sp. undetermined As can readily be seen by the above table., the currant fruit fly has been by far the most outstanding insect affecting this crop during the past two years. Date Locality 1925 1926 Avon Jan. 21 Seines Feb. 3 Canyon Creek Feb. 23 Missoula Apr. 8 Bozeman Apr. 11 Whitehall May 12 Pray May 20 Noxon July 21 Alta Aug. 17 Big Fork Jan. 19 Grantsdale Mar. 30 Clancy May 7 Goldcreek June 8 Helena Mar. 3 Butte July 20 Helena Mar. 3 Bozeman Aug. 29 Scobey Mar. 9 Fort Benton June 4 Hamilton June 4 Moore 4pr. 13 Miles City Apr. 23 White Sul. Spr . July 27 CHERRIES Pear slug Caliroa cerasi Linn. Mites Maggots Saw-fly Sp. undetermined Sp. undetermined Sp. undetermined Joliet July 10 Joliet July 14 Fromberg June 2S Edgar July 7 Joliet July 7 Plains Sept. 17 Billings Nov. 11 Helena July 1 Stevensville Dec. 12 Joliet Jan. 20 During the past two years there was no unusual insect damage to cherries. Perhaps the pear slug was more numerous than normally. TWKXTY-FIRST REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 13 FLOWERS Date Common Name Scientific N AME Locality 1925 1926 Ants Formicidae Joliet Belknap Laurel Augusta May 18 Apr. 2S Apr. 28 May 27 Wireworrus Elateridae Butte Aug. 8 Aphids Aphididae Augusta Great Falls Aug. 21 Aug. 21 It is very difficult to get definite information on insect damage to flowers be- cause such damage is so often confused with physiological conditions that affect plant growth. Undoubtedly ants so often complained of are not damaging the plants but are merely visiting the plant lice on the plants to secure their sweet secretions, known as "honey dew." Wireworms Cutworms GARDEN CROPS Elateridae Chorizagrotis sp. Pea weevil Mylabrus pisorum Linn. Grasshoppers Several species Sugar-beet webworm Loxostege sticticalis Linn. Spotted blister beetle Beetle Garden slugs « ii Ants Flea beetles Alfalfa webworm Painted lady butterfly Common tiger beetle Plant lice False wireworms Moth Fly Maggots Epicauta maculata Say Cerambycidae Agriolimax agrestis Linn. Formicidae sp. Epitrix sp. Loxostege com m ixtalis Walk. Vanessa cardu i L. Cicindellidae Aphididae Tenebrionidae Noctuidae Bibionidae Hylemyia sp. Glasgow Feb. 25 Chinook May 23 Troy Apr. 2 Livingston Apr. 22 Troy May 25 Helena Apr. 23 Lodge Grass May 15 Three Forks July 21 Billings June 11 Glasgow July 16 Glasgow July 19 Belmont July 21 Chinook Aug. 31 Forsyth Nov. 25 Whitefish Feb. 17 Troy May 25 Thomp. Falls June 10 Absarokee June 28 Billings June 11 Billings June 12 Kalispell July 24 Clyde Park July 29 Red Lodge Sept. 16 Miles City Sept. 27 Billings Oct. 13 Ronan Oct. 14 Moore Apr. 13 Red Lodge July 22 14 MONTANA BULLETIN 200 GARDEN CROPS- -Continued Date Common Name Soientific Name Locality 1925 1926 Onion maggot Hylemyia antiqua Meig. Superior July 25 " " " " " Libby Apr. 26 " '' " " " Great Falls Sept. 2 " " " " " Great Falls Sept. 16 " " " " " Reed Point June 2 " " " " " Missoula June 9 " " " " " Thomp. Falls June 10 Vegetable maggots Hylemyia sp. Libby June 28 Radish maggot " " Kalispell May 5 Under this heading insects are listed that are found damaging minor garden crops that are not of sufficient importance to warrant a special heading. Wireworms, various cutworms, onion maggots, and sugar-beet webworms are responsible for the majority of complaints. CABBAGE Cabbage aphis Brevicoryne brassicae L. Diamond-back cabbage worm Diamond-back cabbage worm Diamond-back cabbage worm Diamond-back cabbage worm Diamond-back cabbage worm European cabbage butterfly European cabbage butterfly European cabbage butterfly Cabbage root maggot Plutella maculipennis Curtis Pieris rapae Linn. Hylemyia brassicae Bouclie Lewistown May 19 Stevensville June 10 Ballantine Aug. 18 Great Falls Sept. 2 Geraldine Ju,ne 14 Absarokee June 28 Billings July 24 Corvallis AUg. 4 Whitefish Juiy 18 Kalispell July 28 Kalispell July 30 Kalispell Aug. o Lewistown July 30 Lewistown July 30 Riedel Aug. 8 Big Timber Aug. 7 Cameron Feb. 22 Aphids and various cabbage worms as usual cause a good part, if not the ma- jority, of the damage to this crop. TWENTY-FIRST REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 15 COK> Common Name Plant lice Corn earworm Cutworms Scientific Name Aphididae Heliothis obsoleta Fab. Noctuidae Locality Billings Billings Victor Winnett Malta Culbertson Broadus Date 1925 1926 Mar. 2 Mar. IS July 29 Sept. 30 Oct. IS Apr. 21 May 29 The corn earworm was reported only once in 1925 and three times during 1926 in widely scattered localities and it is hoped that, as our new industry of corn raising develops, this earworm will not develop into such a serious enemy of corn as it is in the central and southern States, but the chances are that it will always be one of our major pest? of corn. POTATO Colorado potato beetle Leptinotarsa decemlin^ata Say Cutworms Leaf-hoppers Wireworms Noctuidae Cicadellidae Elateridae Victor Simms Raymond Rothiemay Malta Helena May 23 Ma; - Sept. 28 Aug. 5 Aug. Aug. The old standby, the Colorado potato beetle, as usual does more than its share of damage, although the growers are becoming more and more efficient with their poisoning practices. Wireworms are becoming more of a problem with the growers of certified potato seed. Work is now in progress at this station in an attempt to discover more efficient control practices. GEE E> HOUSE PLAHTS Black fly Simulium sp. Musselshell Jan. IS Spring tails Sp. undetermined Roanwood Mar. 10 Moths Sp. undetermined Kalispell Mar. g White flies Aleurodidae Poison Jan. 19 Greenhouse scale Aspidiotus hederae Reed Point June 24 Scale insect Sp. undetermined Froid Aug. 4 Leaf-cutter bees Megachilidae Kalispell Dec. 1 Red spider Tetranycfrus tclarius Linn. Bozeman Dec. 1 The number and the wide variation of the insects affecting greenhouse plants were about normal, with no outstanding new pests. 16 MONTANA BULLETIN 200 HOI SE1IOL1) INSECTS Com \io\ Name A its Scii.n i ii ic Name Formicidae Bedbugs Cimex lectiilaris Linn. Solpugida House fly Silver fish White flies Cockroaches Plant lice Clothes moths Clover mites Arachnida spp. Musca domestica Linn. Lepisma sacchnrina Linn. Aleurodidae Blattidae Aphididae Tineola biselliella Hum. Bryobia praetiosa Koch. Greenhouse mites Carpet beetle Date Locality 1925 1926 Great Falls Apr. 10 Livingston Apr. 21 i [elena May 17 Columbus May 20 Clinton May 29 Helena June 25 Fortine Ju,ly 20 Billings July 25 Butte May 26 Charlo June 6 Butte June 12 Ringling July 27 Warland Oct. 13 StevensviUe Apr. 28 Redstone June 11 Logan June 17 Cascade June 20 Billings Aug. 24 Highwood Jan. 19 Melstone Jan. 20 Billings Apr. 15 Big Fork Apr. 20 Helena Apr. 28 Poison Dec. 1 Wisdom Apr. 28 Helena Aug. 10 Sp. undetermined A nthrenus scrophulariae L. Nothing unusual appeared during the past two years except the persistence, as in years past, of the clover mite in getting into houses and causing considerable annoyance. Another source of irritation to the housewife is that lawn ants leave their natural food for the more inviting contents of the modern pantry. June bugs Cutworms Spring tails Nuttall's blister beetle Grasshoppers Army cutworm LAWNS Genus Phyllophaga Noctuidae NATIVE GRASSES Sp. undetermined Lytta nuttali Say Melanoplus flabellifer Scud. Chorizagrotis auxiliaris Grote c< psfis fulvuollis No insects of outstanding importance appeared grasses or range. Hamilton July 21 Big Timber Sept. 7 Marion May 18 Twin Bridges July 30 Lone Pine June 11 Collins July 1 Cut Bank July 3 Great Falls July 8 WhiteS. Spgs. July 29 to be doing damage to native TWENTY-FIRST REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST OATS 17 The only report of insect damage to oats came from a grower at Pony in June, complaining that the false chinch bug had destroyed about one-fifth of his oat and barley crop. However, this insect was collected in great numbers in most all parts of the State. OK> AMENTAL SHRUBS Date Common Name Scientific Name Locality 1925 1926 Plant lice Aphididae Joliet June 1 " " Miles City Jan. 19 Mites Sp. undetermined Great Falls July 30 Hemispherical scale Baissetia hem isphaerica Billings Apr. 17 Large red ants Formicidae Glasgow May 18 Plant lice seem to be the outstanding pests of ornamental shrubbery. VI IMS Sack galls Plant lice Plant lice Plum gouger Sp. undetermined Aphididae Coccotorus scutellaris LeC. Myers July 30 Fort Benton June 4 Fort Benton June 9 Jordan Oct. 2 Jordan Nov. S No new insect pests of plums have been discovered in this State during the past biennium. RASPBERRIES Raspberry leaf-roller Wireworms Red spider Sp. undetermined Elateridae Tetranychus telarius Linn. Belknap Apr. 28 Kalispell May 14 Somers May 25 Fortine July 20 Alta Aug. 4 Ashton. Idaho June 11 Columbia Falls Aug. 9 Raspberry beetle Byturus unicolor Say Strawberry root weevil Otiorhynchus ovatus Linn. It is interesting to note that during this past season the strawberry root weevil was reported doing damage to raspberry bushes near Kalispell. IS MONTANA BULLETIN 200 Common Name Galls Rose snout beetles Leaf-cutter bees ROSES Scientific Name Sp. undetermined Rhynchites bicolor Fab. Megachilidae Locality Date 1925 1926 Scobey Apr. 28 Belt Apr. 30 Sand Springs Apr. 1 Helena July 2 Judith Gap July 19 Helena Aug. 26 Leaf-cutter bees have been unusually abundant this past season, not only caus- ing considerable defoliation of rose bushes but of several kinds of trees used in shelter belts. STRAWBERRIES Strawberry leaf-roller Ancylis comptana Froehl. March fly Bibio albipennis Yellow jackets Vespidae Strawberry root-weevil Ot iorUynchus ovatus Linn. Strawberry crown-minerSp. undetermined Wireworms White grubs Elateridae Phyllophaga sp. Miles City Apr. 13 Ronan Jan. 19 Charlos Hgts. June 14 Dixon July 24 Miles City Apr. 13 Big Fork Apr. 13 Helena May 29 Missoula June 1 Hamilton Dec. 30 Charlos Hgts. June 14 Corvallis June 22 Charlos Hgts. June 22 Corvallis June 23 Missoula Dec. 17 Charlos Hgts. June 14 Alta Aug. 4 Ronan June 18 MissouJa Aug. 3 Ennis Aug. 10 Glendive Nov. 20 A study of the above table tends to show that the strawberry root-weevil is the most important insect pest of strawberries and it is fast becoming more and more of a problem in the Bitter Root Valley. TWENTY-FIRST REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 19 Common Name Indian meal-w orm Grain beetle Grain beetle Granary weevil STORED PRODUCTS Scientific Name Plodia inter punctella Heubn. Sp. undetermined Calendridae Calandra granaria Linn. Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuhniella Zell. Stored products insect Sp. undetermined Beetle Saw-toothed beetle Larder beetle Confused flour beetle Wheat maggot Pea weevil Dermestids Cutworm moths Chrysocephalus agrestis Kerby Orizaephilus surrinamensis L. Dermestcs lardarius Linn. Triboliuvi confusuin Duval Sp. undetermined Mylabris pisorum Linn. Sp. undetermined Sp. undetermined Date Locality 1925 1926 Havre Aug. 10 Broadview June 22 Bridger Mar. 4 Havre Aug. 10 Broadview June 22 Wibaux Aug. 26 Havre Aug. 10 Butte Nov. 2 Glasgow Aug. 3 Rock Springs Aug. 7 Great Falls Sept. 15 Big Fork Sept. 19 Willow Creek Apr. 28 Dillon May 17 Columbus Jan. 19 Missoula Sept. 15 Circle Apr. 28 Geyser June 28 Billings Oct. 19 Much loss to stored products could be prevented if the proper precautions or control measures were applied. The past two years have revealed no new insects damaging stored products. Spotted blister beetle Sugar-beet webworm SUGAR BEETS Epicauta maculata Say Loxostegc sticticalis Linn. Malta July 9 Hardin Aug. 29 Plentywood Aug. 5 Billings Sept. 7 Billings Sept. 27 Sugar-beet leafhopper Cicadellidae The sugar-beet leaf-hopper was found in Montana this year for the first time. The leaf-hopper, known by growers as the "white fly," is the carrier of curly-top, a very destructive disease. The status of this insect in Montana is discussed under a separate heading in this publication. 20 MONTANA BULLETIN 200 SHADE AM) FOREST TREES ASH 1 ) vi E Common Name Scientific Name Locality 1925 1926 Ash tree borer Podosesia fraxini Lugger Great Falls Feb. 3 Plant lice Aphididae Philipsburg Mar. 21 " " Helena June 16 Tarnished plant bug Lygus pratensis Linn. Glasgow June 1") Blister beetles (spotted) Epicauta maculata Say Big Sandy July 6 Leaf-cutter bees Megachilidae Conrad Aug. 29 Square Butte June 9. Baker July 28 Park City Sept. 2 The above insects were not reported as doing damage but were sent in for identification. TWEXTY-FIRST REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 25 STATE ENTOMOLOGIST LAW (Chapter 72, Revised Codes) 913. State entomologist of Montana. The entomologist of Montana agricultural college and experiment station shall be known as the state entomologist of Montana. 914. Duties of state entomologist. It shall be the duty of state entomologist to conduct field investigations of the injurious insects of fruits, vegetables, grains, grasses, forage crops, including clover and al- falfa, root crops, shade trees, ornamental plants, and any other insects that may become injurious. When it becomes known to the state ento- mologist that an outbreak of an insect has occurred in any part of the state, it shall be his duty, so far as is possible without conflicting with his other duties, to go to the scene of the outbreak or send a suitably qualified assistant. The state entomologist or said assistant shall deter- mine the extent and seriousness of the outbreak, and, when necessary publish or make public demonstration of the best remedies to be employed. 915. Annual report. The entomologist shall make an annual report to the governor of the state, on or before the first day of January, which report shall be published by the experiment station as one of its regular bulletins, and shall contain a report of his work and expenditures under this act. 916. Expenses: The state entomologist shall receive no compensation for his services other than what he may receive from the College of Agri- culture and Mechanic Arts and Experiment Station but such office or lab- oratory expenses and such salaries of necessary assistants, together with such traveling expenses, as result from the work contemplated under this Act, not to exceed such sums as the legislature from time to time may appropriate, shall be paid, and upon certification of the secretary of the executive board of the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts and Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station, the state auditor is au- thorized to issue warrants to cover same. The actual traveling expenses of the State Entomologist and the actual traveling expenses and salary of his assistant which shall result from the work contemplated undei- Section 4504 of the Revised Codes of Montana of 1921, as amended by Chapter 25 of the Laws of the Eighteenth Legislative Assembly of 1923 shall be paid by the county or counties wherein such work is contem- plated or carried on, and upon presentation and allowance of a sworn claim against such county or counties, warrants in payment thereof shall be drawn upon the General Fund of such county or counties. The board of county commissioners shall annually determine the amount of such warrants drawn upon the General Fund for the purposes of this Act, and shall include such amount in the tax levied the succeeding year for the purpose of insect pest extermination and reimburse the General Fund for money so paid out on such warrants as is provided in Section 4504 of the Revised Codes of Montana of 1921, as amended by Chapter 25 of the Laws of the Eighteenth Legislative Assembly of 1923. 26 MONTANA BULLETIN 200 THE COUNTY DfSECT PEST I AW The County Insect Pest Law, as amended by the Eighteenth Session of the Legislature, is as follows: 4501. Destruction insect pests by county commissioners. The board of commissioners of any county of this state, where there are any insect pests, are hereby authorized and empowered to appoint some suitable person or persons, whose duty it shall be, acting under the direction of the state entomologist, to poison, kill, catch, and exterminate insect pests within such county, and any such person so appointed is hereby empow- ered and directed to enter upon any farm, railroad right of way, grounds or, premises infested with such insect pests and poison, kill, --tttch, and ex- terminate the insect pests therein. 4502. Compensation of persons appointed. Any person so appointed under the provisions of this Act shall receive as compensation the sum of not less than Two Dollars and Fifty Cents ($2.50), or more than Four Dollars ($4.00) per day for eight hours labor performed in poisoning, killing, catching and exterminating such insect pests exclusive of time going to and returning from such work. Such person shall make a sworn statement to the county of the time put in and the poison or other means used, which said statement shall be attached to the bill or claim against the county, and warrants in payment thereof drawn on the General Fund. 4503. Purchase equipment — Warrants. The Board of County Com- missioners of any county may, from time to time, purchase such quanti- ties and amounts of poisons, traps and other equipment necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act to poison, kill, catch or exterminate such insect pests, and warrants in payment thereof shall be drawn on the General Fund. 4504. Tax levy for payment warrants. The Board of County Commis- sioners shall annually determine the amount of such warrants drawn on the General Fund for the purposes of this Act, and the succeeding year, shall levy a tax for the purpose of insect pest extermination sufficient in amount to reimburse said General Fund for the money so paid out on such warrants, which said tax shall be levied upon all the property in the county and shall not exceed one mill on each dollar of assessed valuation. If there be no money in the General Fund with which to pay such war- rants, they shall be registered and bear interest in the same manner as other county warrants, but in such case the interest shall be computed and added to the amount for which such tax is levied. 4505. "Insect pest" defined. The term "insect pest" as used in this act shall include grasshopper, cut-worm, pale western cut-worm, army worm, chinchbug and any other insect generally recognized as a destroyer of grain, hay, and horticultural crops.