s
eI'^ state JOCUMINIS
THE MONTANA STATE BOARD
OF ENTOMOLOGY
n
FIRST
BIENNIAL REPORT
1913-1914
HELENA, MONTANA
DECEMBER. 1914
Montana State Librarv
lilllliliilii
3 0864 1005 9495 4
THE MONTANA STATE BOARD
OF ENTOMOLOGY
FIRST
BIENNIAL REPORT
1913-1914
MONTANA STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY.
W. F. COGSWELL, W. D.. Secretary State Board oi Health.
Chairman ---------- Helena. Montana
W. J. BLH^LER, D. V. S., State Veterinary Surgeon,
Member ----- ----- Helena, Montana
R. A. COOLEY. B. Sc. State Entomologist,
Secretary ------- - - - Bozeman. AJontana
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.
BozemaPx, Alontana, Dec. 15, 1914.
To His Excellemcy.
Governor Samuel V. Stewart,
Helena, Montana.
]\Iy dear Sir:
I have the honor to transmit to you the First Biennial
Report of the Montana State Board of Entomology.
Tliis Board is charged with the control of insec/ts which
are carriers of disease of man and domestic animals. Two
lines of work have been undertaken up to t'he present time,
namely, the control of the Rocky Mountain Spotted fever tick
and a preliminary study of the house fly and of other flies of
similar habits.
Tt is belie^'ed tliat this Board has a very important place
to fill in the State's service and its labors have been well
begun.
Very respectfully,
R. A. COO LEY,
Secretary.
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First Biennial Report of the Montana State
Board of Entomology.
By R. A. Cooley.
The Montana State Board of Entomology was created by
the passage of the act which follows :
Chapter 120,
"An Act to Create tlie State Board of Entomology. To Define
its Powers and Duties and Appropriate Money Therefor."
Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Mon-
tana :
Section i. There is hereby created the Montana State
Board of Entomology, which shall be composed of the State
Entomologist, the Secretary of the State Board of Health and
the State Veterinarian.
Sec. 2. The Secretary of the State Board of Health
shall be Chairman of said Board and the State Entomologist
shall be Secretary.
Sec. 3. None of the members of said board shall receive
any co^mpensation other than that already allowed by law. ex-
cept that the actual- expenses of members v/hile engaged in the
duties incident to the Avork of said board shall be paid out
of the appropriation made to carr)^ on the Avork of said board.
Sec. 4. It sliall be the duty of said board to investig»ate
and study the dissemination by insects of diseases among per-
sons and animals, said invest ig'atibn haiving for its purpose the
eradication and prevention of such diseases.
Sec. 5. Said Board shall take steps to eradicate and
prevent the spread of Rocky Mountain tick fever, Infantile Par-
alysis and all other infections of communicable diseases that
may be transmitted or carried by insects.
Sec. 6. .Said Board shall have authority to make and
prescribe rules and regulations, including the right of quar-
antine O'A^er persons and animals in any district of infection,
and shall haA^e the right to designate and prescribe the treat-
ment for domestic animals to prevent the spread of such dis-
eases; but said board shall not have the right to- prescribe or
regulate the treatment giA^en to any person suffering from any
infections or comnmnicnble disease.
6 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY.
Sec. 7. All rules and reg'nlations of the State Beard of
Entomology shall be subject to approval by the State Board
of Health.
Sec. 8. The B'oard shall publish in printed form all rules
and reg'ulations which shall be adopted by said Board for the
eradication and control of diseases O'f any kind and such rules
and regulations shall be circulated among the residents of
every district affected thereby.
Seic 9. Any person who shall violate any of the rules
or regulati'O'iis of the .State Board of Entomology shall be
deemed g'uilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof
shall be fined in any sum not in excess of one hundred
($100.00) dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail for
any period not exceeding thirty (30) days or by both such fine
and imprisonment.
Sec. 10. There is hereby appropriated out of any moneys
in the State Treasury not otherwise appropriated the sum
of five thousand (v$5,ooo.oo) dollars, or so much tihereof as may
be necessary to carry on the work of the State Board of En-
tomology for the year 1913, and the sum of five thousand
($5,000.00) dollars or so much thereof as may be necessary
to carry on the work of said board for the year 1914. Said
money to be expended under the direction and approval of the
State Board of Examiners.
Sec. II. All Acts and parts of Acts in conflict with this
Act are hereby repealed.
Sec. 12. This Act shall take effect from and after its pas-
sage and approval.
Approved March 18, 1913.
FIELD OF USEFULNESS OF THIS BOARD.
The existeuice of the spotted fever tick and the disease
"Which it carries in certain parts of Montana, was undoubtedly
the immediate occasion for the passage of this law^. There ex-
isted no service or Board in the State which was clothed with
all the legal authority needed to prescribe and enforce the
necessary rules and regulations for the eradication of this
tick.
The progress made in recent years in the medical, veter-
inary and entomological sciences has emphasized the impor-
tance of insects in the transnnssion of iTuman and animal dis-
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY 7
eases and it was only natural and wise that Montana should
provide for the investigation of disease-bearing insects within
her boundaries and for the eradication or control of any which
threaten the health of the people or menace the interests of
the stock growers. In view of the remiarkable progress in our
knowledge of such matters in recent years and the various sur-
prises thait we have had, we may reasonably expect new and
unforseen demands for the services of this Board. In fact there
are already a number of new problems which call for attention.
SOME INSECT BORNE DISEASES.
A brief review of some of the facts concerning the part
played by insects in the transmission of a few of the best
known diseases will s'ill further indicate the field of service
to the State which this Board occupies.
Texas Cattle Fever and Ticks.
Among animal diseases may be mentioned Texas cattle
fever which in 1893 Smith and Kilborne demonstrated to be
transmitted by the cattle tick. The same investigators showed
that this disease is conveyed only by this tick, there being
no other means of infection of cattle. This disease is of great
imiportance to the cattle growers of the south. It has resulted
in enormous losses and large sums of m.oney have been ex-
pended from the federal and various state treasuries m fighting
it. Smith and Kilborne's work pointed out the practical method
of control or eradication and excellent progress has been made
during recent years by desitroying the ticks.
Malaria and Mosquitoes.
In 1895 Rc^ss watched the development of the Malarial par-
asite in mosquitoes that had been allowed tO' bite malarial
patients. He also determined that this parasite can develop
only in individuals of one genus of mosquitoes (Anopheles).
Three years later he transmitted bird malaria from one bird to
another by means of mosquitoes. Other important experiments
were performed on men and it was shown that this disease
is transmitted by mosquitoes and, based on good evidence, it
is known that mosquitoes are the only source of infection.
It is not clear that we have had any malaria in Montana, ex-
cepting now and then a case brought in from outside, but dur-
8 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
ing recent years the State Entomolog'ist has found malarial
mO'squitoes in several widely separated parts of the state which
indicates the possibility of malaria being transmitted within
the State.
Typhoid Fever and Flies.
It is well known that house flies, and other species of
similar habits, not only breed in filth, but visit privy vaults
where infected fecal matter occurs and also commonly visit
public and private kitchens and eating places, thereby fur-
nishing every opportunit}' for depiositing germs of this dis-
ease on foods and in other situations where the germ of typhoid
mav find their way to the human mouth. R is not believed
tliat flies aire the only or even the prinicipal source of infection
with typhoid fever, but it is plainly indicated that under cer-
tain classes of circumstances, these insects may be of very
great importance. Tn a State like Montana where are found
manv small towns which have no sewers and where open privy
vaults are commonly used, the opportunities for infection by
flies are greater than in older settled regions.
Tick Paralysis and the Tick.
Quite recently a new disease has become known in the
Northwest, for whicli the spotted fever tick is also respon-
sible. This disease is known as tick paralysis and both man and
certain domestic animals are affected. The disease has at-
tracted some attention in British Columbia and in Oreg'on
Where a iconsiderable number of cases in man have occurred.
In British Columbia sheep have also been affected. In this
disease the presence of the tick attached to the body usually on
the base of the head or along the spine, results in a paralysis
which progresses upward, and, if the tick is not found and
removed, the ending is fatal. Other animals are sometimes
affected.
While no cases of tick paralysis have been officially report-
ed, there is some evi'dence indicative that this disease occurs
in Montana.
Some indefiniteness has surrounded this disease. The
earlier reports were rather vague, but the records published by
Dr. I. U. Temple, of Pendleton. Oregon, and by Dr. J- L- Todd,
of McGill University, IMontreal, and especially by the experi-
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY 9
mental work of Dr. Seymour Hadwin, Medical Research Labor-
atory, Agassiz, Canada, in which he has been able to repro-
duce the disease throu^gh the ag-ency of ticks, have put this new
disease on a more definite basis and Dr. G. H. F. Nuttall, of
England, one of the world's foremost authorities, has recently
declared, '"'Since we have been able to reproduce tick paralysis
experimentally there can be no longer any doubt as to the ex-
istence of this disease." (Parasitology, Vol. VII. No. i, 1914,
p. 102.)
Many other diseases might be m.entioned in which insects
play a more or less prominent part as infective agenicies and
■this subject is looked upon as being of great importance in the
prevention of disease.
SPOTTED FEVER AND THE TICK.
An abundance of evidence has shown that the common tick,
called the wood-tick, is the means by which man contracts
this disease. So convincing is the evidence that has been pro-
duced that it now passes as an established fact among scien-
tists that this tick is the agency and the only one by which
man becomes infected. The water transmission theory and
the other theories which have had some currency are not sup-
ported by the results of investigations by scientists.
Importance of the Tick Problem in Montana.
Spotted fever is a disease of human beings and a high per-
centage of cases in Montana prove fatal. In laboratory experi-
ment ground squirrels and some other rodents have been
found to be susceptible to spotted fever and there are other
indications that the ground sc[uirrel at least may have the
disease in nature. There can be little doubt that spotted
fever germs are transmitted back and forth between ticks and
some wild animals, perhaps more than one, in nature. Man
contracts the disease by being bitten by one of the ticks.
Until the source of infection in the tick became definitely
known the disease was surrounded with an air of mystery
which still couitinues to some extent, and which, together with
the fact that the fever is so highly fatal, has lead to a somewhat
general feeling of alarm. There can be no doubt that the pres-
ence of spotted fever has worked a hardship on the residents
of the Bitter Root region, affecting not only the owners of
property in the immediate districts, but the townspeople as well.
10 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
It is general]}^ known throughou't the United States that this
disease is found in parts of IMontana, but it's nature and cause
are not well understood and in many instances exag'geraited
ideas of its prevalence and seriousness are held. It will be
greatly to Montana's advantage if the actual facts may be
generallv made known, so that the misapprehensions may be
cleared up.
In recent 3^ears the number of deaths from this disease
has been around eight to twelve per year.
ERADICATION BEGUN.
In the spring of 1913. the Board of Entomology proceeded
to take up the work of eradicating tihe spotted fever tick in the
Bitter Root Valley. It was learned that both the United
States Public Health Service and the Bureau of Entomology
were willing to devote funds to this work and to send experts
to prosecute it. In view of the magnitude of the undertaking
and the limitation of the State funds at our command, it wa;^
considered wise to accept the federal aid and thus the more
rapidly do away with the tick and the sooner relieve the
.State of this menace which costs some lives every year and
injuriously affects property values in some localities.
The Bitter Root Valley, where the tick problem in Alon-
tana centers, was divided into two districts and the Public
Ke'alth Service was invited to operate in the southern portion
and the Bureau of Entomology in the northern portion.
These two federal services went into the field at once
and have both pushed the work vigorously for the past two sea-
sons. The State Entomologist, who serves as a member and secre-
tary of the State Board of Entomology, was asked by the Federal
Bureau of Entomology, to take local charge of the work for
them in Montana. The laws of Montana direct that the Ento-
mologisit of the Experiment Station at Bozemen shall be the
State Entomologist. Accordingly permission to take charge of
this tick work w^as secured from the Director of the Experi-
ment Station and the new duty was undertaken. This organi-
zation, however, did not relieve the Entomologist from his
duties at the Experim.ent Station.
Dir. L. D. Fricks was detailed from the United States
Public HealtJi Service to take charge for them and he estab-
lished headquarters at Victor in the southern district.
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY 11
The work was carried forward under this org-anization dur-
ing- the season of 1913. It was necessary for the State Ento-
molog"ist to spend a pan of each week in Bozeman and a part
in the northern tick district two hundred and thirty miles
awa}', and after one year of service in this double capacity, it
was decided that it was not practicable to longer perform both
services. According^ly on the opening of the season of 1914,
the Kureau of Entomology placed a man in the field to devote
his entire time to the work. 'Sir. \\ . V. King, a graduate in
Entomology from the Montana Agricultural Colleg'^. and now
in the employ of the Federal Bureau of Entomology, was placed
in charge. Dbctor Pricks returned to take charge for the Pub-
lic Health Service for the second season.
It is believed that both of these federal services will con-
tinue in this work in the future and 'that the State will coTt-
tmue to hRVQ the benefit of their assistance.
The Board of Entomology' is working in co-operation with
these Federal departments.
The law passed b}^ the last legislature gave authority to
prescribe and enforce such rules and regulations as are neces-
sary in tlie prosecution of the work of eradication. The dip-
ping of livestock is included in the control program and it
was found necessary to place certain restrictions on the move-
ment of anim.als. and the Board made and j^ublished regulations
as follows :
12 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
REGULATIONS OF THE MONTANA STATE BOARD OF
ENTOMOLOGY.
WHEREAS, It has been demonstrated that the common
so-called wood ti'ok of the Northwestern states, scientifically
known as Dermacentor venustus, is the means of man's infec-
tion with the disease known as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever,
and,
WHEREAS. It is commonly known that both this tick
and this disease occur on the west side of the Bitter Root Val-
ley in the counties of Ravalli and Missoula, State of Montana,
and,
W^hereas, It has been shown that of the four stages in the
development of this tick, the last, Oir adult stage, commonly
occurs, and is fed on horses, mules, asses, cows and dogs.
THEREFO'RE, Be it resolved that the following brders
and regulations he spread upon the minutes of the Montana
State Board of Entomology, and communicated to the public.
Section i.
The following tick-control districts are described and
declared :
(i) The Florence Diistrict. Bounded on the east by the
main channel of the Bitter Root river; on the north by the
boundary between the 2nd and 3rd tiers of sections northward
from the dividing line of Missoula and Ravalli counties, and
extending from the river westward to and into the mountains
as far as human habitations do or may go, or as far as domes-
tic animals may w^ander; on the west by an imaginary line run-
ning north and south along the mountains as far back from the
valley as himian habitations do or may occur, or as far as do-
mestic animals do or may Avander; and on the south by the
boundary line between townships nine and ten north, known
as the O'Hare lane, and extending from above described imagin-
ary line on the west, eastward to t1ie main channel of the Bitter
Root river.
(2) . The Stcvensville District. Bounded on the east by
the main channel of the Bitter Root river; on the norTch by the
boundary line between townships nine and ten north, extending
from the main channel of the Bitter Root river to and into the
mountains as far as human habitations do or may go. or do-
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY 13
mestic animals do or may wander; on the west by an imagin-
ary line running north and south along the mountains as far
back from the valley as human habitations dO' or may oiccur,
and as far as domestic animals do or may wander; on tdie south
by a certain stream of water commonly known as Big Creek,
extending from the mountains to the Bitter Root river.
(3) The Victor District. Bounded on the east by the
ntain channel of the Bitter Root river, on the north by a certain
stream of water known as Big Creek, extending from the Bit-
ter Root river to and intO' the mountains; on the west by an
imaginary line runnmg north and south along the mountains, as
far back from the valley as human habitations do or may go, or
domestic animals do or may wander; on the south by the high-
way locally known as the Bourne lane and on the east and west
extension of the same, extending from the main channel of the
Bitter Root river to and into the mountains.
Section II.
At a convenient point in each tick-control district shall be
ooinstructed a dipping vat and yards, for use in dipping domes-
tic animals, and all cows, horses, mules, asses and dogs shall
be periodically dipped or otherwise freed and kept free of ticks,
by spraying, carding or hand-picking, at such times and in such
manner as the officers in charge of the work may prescribe.
AMENDMENT TO SECTION II. The rules and regu-
lations of the Montana State Board of Entomology, respecting
the dipping of domestic animals for the destruction of the
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever tick are hereby amended; and
on and after May 20th, 1913. or until otherwise notified, dairy
cows which are giving milk are exempt from dipping, pro-
vided the owners keep them free of ticks by hand-picking or
spraying with an arsenic-pine-tar soluvJon, containing .22 per
cent of arsenic trioxide.
Section III.
O'wners of domestic animal? in tick-control districts shall
be allowed to dip their animals in the State dipping vats with-
out charge, but the responsibility of delivering the animals for
dipping' and of passing them through the vats, or otherwise
freeing them of ticks, as prescribed by the men in charge of
the vats, is placed upon the owners.
14 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
Section IV.
A close quarantine of all domestic animals, including driv-
ing horses, mules and oxen, shall be placed upon animals and
premises of all ]:iersons who refuse or fail to bring their ani-
mals to 'the vats for dipping.
^Montana State Board of Entomology,
R. A. COOLEY, Secretary.
April 5, Y0I4-
The rules and regulations of the ^Montana State Board of
EntonTology with respect to the eradication of the Rocky
Alountain Spotted Fever tick are hereby extended and amend-
ed by the addition of the following section:
Section V.
On and after April i, IQ14. domestic animals, including
cows, horses, asses, mules, sheep, goats and hogs, may be re-
moved from the tick control districts between March first and
July fifteen of each year on.h' on written ])ermits of the Secre-
tary of the Board of Entomology or duly authorized represen-
tatives of the IJni'ed States Bureau of Entomology or the
United States Public Health Service.
Montana State Board of Entomology,
R. A. COOLEY. Secretary.
April 5, 1914.
Section j of the rules ^n.d regulations of the ^Montana
State Board of Entomology with respect to the eradication of
the Rocky ATountain Spotted Fever tick are hereby extended
and amended hv the addition of the following tick control
districts :
(4") The Hamilton District. Bounded on the east by the
main channel of the Bitter Root river; on the north b^' B>ourne
lane and on the east and west extensio^n of the same ; on the
west by an imaginary line running nortli and south along the
mountains, as far from the valley as human habitations do or
may go and domestic animals do or may wander; on the south
by a certain stream of water commonly known as Canvon creek,
extending from the mountains to the Bitter Root river.
(5) The Gold Creek District. Bounded on the east by the
main channel of the Bitter Root river; on the north bv a cer-
tain stream of water commonly known as Canytin creek, extend-
ing from the mountains to tb.e Bitter Root river; on the west
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY 15
by an imaginary line running north and south along- the moun-
tains, as far from the valley as human habitations do or may
go and domestic animals do or may wander; and on the south
by Lost Horse Canyon and creek and east and wesrc extensions
of the same.
?\lontana State Board of Entoiiiology,
R. A. COOLEY, Secretary.
Helena, Montana, April 5, 1914.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
Notice is hereby given that Doctor L. D. Fricks, Victor, of
the U. S. Public Health Service and Mr. W. V. King, Florence,
of the U. S. Bureau of Entomology, are authorized to issue per-
mits for the removal of domestic animals from tick control
districts.
By authoritv of the ]Montana vState Board of Entomology.
R. A. COOLEY, Secretary.
The Bureau of Entomology and the Public Health Serv-
ice have sul)mittcd reports as follows :
16 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
WORK OF BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY AGAINST
SPOTTED FEVER TICK IN CO-OPERATION
WITH BOARD.
By W. V. King.
Organization of Work.
The spotted fever area in the Bitter Root Valley, con-
sisting in general of the territory on the west side of the Bitter
Root river and extending from south of D'arby to O'Brien
creek a little southwest of Missoula, a distance of some 60 or
70 miles and includi'ngi Lo Lo Canyon, was, by agreement in
1913 bdtween the State Board of Entomology, the State Board
of Health, the U. S. Public Health Service and the Bureau of
Entomology, divided into two control districts with Big Creek,
southwest of Stevensville, the dividing line. The control work
in the south end of the valley was to be under the direction
of the Public Health Service and that In the north end. in-
cluding Lo Lo Canyon, under the Bureau of Entomology.
In the Bureau's territory three control districts were estab-
lished, for the season of 1914, the Stevensville, Elorence and
AVoodman districts. In the Stevensville district a vat had
already been constructed an'd in the other two, vats were erect-
ed this season. In each district a man was placed in charge of
the vat, H. G. Cow^an in Stevensville; G. W. Shaffer in Flor-
ence ; and M. ]. Stanley in Woodman ; the first t\vo of which
were local men. An additional inspector was employed in the
Stevensville district for part of the season.
Mr. H. P. Wood conducted the more technical part of the
work, preparation of dips, and determination of effect of the
solutions on animals and ticks. In addition he carried on some
tick biology studies and an experiment with sheep.
Co-operation with Forest Service.
In the spring of 1914, Mr. W. W. White of the Forest
Service, assigned several assistants to the task of making a
type map of the west side of the valley, the determination of
the proportion of the different types of land and an estimation
of ithe cost of clearing the brush and pine lands. Maps show-
ing in color eleven classified types of land and coming undcf
the heads of "cultivated," "cultivable" and "non-cultivable."
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY 17
were prepared and I have been supplied with copies covering
the west side fro-m Hamilton to the Missoula-Ravalli County
line. These have proven especially useful.
In this report he shows that in the area between the Bitter
Root river and 'the forest boundary and between the forks of
the Bitter Root above Darby and Lo Lo, totaling' 134.077 aicres,
43.6 per cent is under cultivation, an additional 31.2 per cent
is cultivable and 25.2 per cent is non-cultivable.
Season's Work.
Three general classes of work were followed during the
season: :(i) Educational, (2) Actual control, and (3) Biologi-
cal and experimental studies.
One of the most important phases of a successful control
program was, early in the work, decided to be the instruction
of the ranchers and residents in the life history and nature of
-the tick, the proof that the tick is the conveyor of the dis-
ease, the reasons for tick destruction, the logical and scientific
method of eradicating the ticks and the arguments ag'ainst
other methods. It was thought that the holding of public meet-
ings in the school houses and other central points in the va-
rious districts would be the best means of disseminating this
information, but upon studying various local circumstances
such meetings did not seem to me to be indicated and it was
hoped to accomplish the same results with the distribution of
circulars, personal interviews, demonstrations at the dipping
plants, etc. In the entire area there are not so many people, but
that all could be seen and talked to in person by some one of
^he men engaged on the work and a stronger individual appeal
could be made in this way than in a mass meeting. There are
in each locality a few leaders who influence the attitude and
sentiment of the others and the first work was to determine
who these were and to make special efforts to arouse their in-
terest and gain their co-operation.
The main points seemed to be to gain the friendship and
confidence of the residents, to avoid inju'"y t(j stock and other
occurrences which would stir up mtagonism, and lo con-
stantly emphasize the first importance of the destruction of
adult ticks.
In the Stevensville and Florence districts the public alti-
tude has been so changed that it is now seldom necessarv to
18 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
arj^ne the question as to whether ticks are or are not the trans-
mit-. inc;« agent and less frequently still to urge the desirability
of tick extermination. TJie practicalnlity of accomplishing such
an end and the means of doin^g so are now the del)ata])le points
and ])resent the real difficulties in the educational side of the
work.
In Lo Lo canyon the atti'.ude is different and here the task
arises of persuading the settlers that tick destruction is desir-
able and that the results would repay the effort. Ir is hard
to realize that it is necessary to argue such questions with the
people most interested while every one in nearby Ir)calities
considers them self-e^■^dent, and eiven harder to realize that
persons unfamiliar except in t'he most superficial way with tlie
habits of the tick will originate or accept ideas which liave
no support in theory or fact.
Control Work.
The "control program" may be outlined as follows:
1. Destruction of adult ticks on domestic animals. Based
upon our findings in 1910 and 191 1 the fever tick can l)e eradi-
cated from the valley by pre^•enting the eng'orgement of the
female on domestic animals and this or.e metli(t-'l was origin-
ally recommended. Should the practical difficulties of such
a pro'g'ram be overcome, it is -^till thought that it would effect
'Control ; that is, reduce the number of ticks to such an extent
that it would no longer be dangerous to live and work in the
valley after which the cultivable land could be developed and
would produce such conditions that reinfestation would not
occur. It is reasonable also 10 suppose that even if complete
eradication were not brought about that the infection itself
could not be maintain.ed. a circumstance analagous to what
occurs in yellow fever when the dens'ity of mosquitoes falls
below a certain limit.
2. Destruction of native rodents. 1 consider tliis an im-
portant secon(lar\- means of combating the tick.
3. Burning, Clearing and Development of Land. Un-
doubtedly the culti\-ation of land is of tlic greatest im])ortance
in bringing about a ]iermanent tick-free area. Ihit unfm'tunate-
ly the burning over of uncleared land as a means of destroying
ticks is practised with more enthusiasm by many of t'he resi-
dents than any otlier meth'u!. At tlie reriuest of the Forest
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY 19
Service and because residents are apt to neglect otlier precau-
tions in favor of this we have combated the idea of burning-
by attempting to show the impractkability and futility of it.
unless it is employed preparatory to development.
Construction of Vats. In the S'tevensville district a con-
crete vat v/hich was constructed in 1913 was ready for opera-
tion.
Three galvanized iron vats were built this spring by E. L.
Metcalf in Missoula at a cost of $720.00 and were ready for
delivery on April 13. One was installed on the Townsend ranch
a mile south of Florence and onc-fourtJh mile east of the main
road, and holding and drippingi pens for the stock were con-
structed at a cost of $392.36. It was ready for use by April
25. A second one was installed on the Lachman property, a
short distance west of Woodman postoffrce on the county road.
The pens, etc., \vere completed by ]\Iay 19 and total cost of in-
stallation was ^$32I.09.
Methods and Records. In March a complete census of all
domestic stock in the Stevensville, Florence and Carlton dis-
tricts was taken and information recorded as to the conditions
under which the animals were to be kept during the tick season,
whether in stable or pasture, whether in unfenced or fenced pas-
tures, and whether cleared or uncleared, low or hiigh land.
Although tick activity began the first week in March, the
stock was not generally turned on to the pastures until the
last of April, being kept on the meadows and hay fields which
are as a rule not infested. During April a man was employed
to keep a watch on the stock and to determine wiben they were
turned out and v.'hen they began picking up ticks and only a
few herds were found which needed treatment before the first
of Alay. About this time the turning out became general and
soon afterward a circular notice was sent out to the stoick own-
ers setting a date for the dipping of their stock. In the major-
ity of cases the owners, in the Stevensville district, either
broiigiht their stock or sent notice tihat they were pdcking ticks
by hand. If the stock was not brought to the vat the inspector
visited the ranch, examined the animals and if ticks were found
another dipping date w^as set and the owner urg^ed to comply.
A second card form for reporting to me the animals dipped
and a third form for reporting on inspected animals were sup-
plled to the vat tenders and inspectors. During the season
20 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
an examination of part of all of the stock on nearly every
place was made and a record kept of the ticks fovmd. Those
animals which Avere not dipped and which were in tick country
were frequently inspected. In addition, the presence of ticks on
pasture lands was determined by dragg-ing- cloth flags around
and stock on such lands were considered infested.
]\Iilk cows and work horses were exempted from dipping
as long as no ticks were found developing o^n them and for the
most part this class of animals caused little trouble.
Our system of exenipting work horses and milk cows and
other animals which the ovv^ner preferred to pick by hand or
which he thought bore no ticks increased the expense of the
operation, still I believe it a necessary provision and resulted
beneficially in the work. A measure requiring that all animals
be presented at the vat for dipping or inspection seems unwar-
ranted toi those who have few stock or few ticks and the diffi-
culties which Avould prevent the absolute enforcement of such
a measure would result in less effectiveness than does the pres-
ent method whereby we can determine the relative importance
of different groups of animals and concentrate our efforts ac-
cordingly.
The dip decided upon for use this season is an arsenic
solution, knov/n as the "Laboratory Dip," the mixture and
strength of which had been worked out by Lieut. -Colonel Wat-
kins-Pitchford in the Union of South Africa. The formula for
this consists of: 8 or 8Vo poiunds of arsenite of soda (80%
arsenious aciid) ; 5I/. pounds soft soap; 2 gallons parrafin (kero-
sene) ; 400 (Imp.) gallons of water (480 U. S. gal.).
Stevensville District.
This district consists of the area between Big Creek on
the south and the O'Hare lane on the north, approximately
15,000 acres of w!hi/ch about one-half is uimcleared land.
The domiestic animals in this district consist of 295 horses
and 1,038 cattle classified as: Work horses, 188; young and
range horses, 107 ; milk cows, 302 ; young and range cattle. 735.
There are 56 stock owners. This gives an average of 23.8 total
stock and 3.3 work horses, 1.7 others, 5.4 milk cows and 13. i
range caitle per ranch. But three men own 412 range cattle or
over half of the total and excepting them leaves an average of
only 6 range cattle with an average of 17.3 horses and cattle
per owner.
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY 21
The first dipping of the stock occurred April 5. when 9
head of range cattle were dipped, but general dipping did not
commence until after the first of ^Tay. During the season 56
horses and 1,282 cattle v/ere dipped. The usual number of dip-
pings was three times and while tlie dippingi interval was set
for 10 days it actually ranged from 11 to 19 or 20 days. When
the interval exceeded 15 days, the owner usually examined his
animals between dippings.
Florence District.
This district consists of the territory between the O'Hare
lane on the south to the Missoula-Ravalli county line on the
north or all of township 10. The inhabitable area is approxi-
mately 13.000 acres and not over half of this is under culti-
vation.
The census in March showed 274 horses and 746 cattle
owned by 63 farmers and classified as : Work horses, 206 ; other
horses, 68; milk cows. 342; and range cattle, 404. Several small
stock owners were missed in taking the census and t^Vo refused
to give the number of stock. One of these was later obtained
and the number owned by the other was estimated.
From these numbers it is seen that the total number of
stock in the district is 1,040, giving an a\^erage for each ranch
of 16.1. The other averages are: Work borses, 3.2; other
horses, i.; milk cows, 5.4; and range cattle, 6.4. Two hundred
thirty, or over half of the range cattle are owned by 7 ranchers
in herds over a dozen. The rest of the animals included under
this head, averaging about 3 per ranch, are young animals and
are for the most part kept v;ith the milk herd.
At the beginning of the season the sentiment against dip-
ping was such that most of the stock owners preferred con-
trolling their herds in some other way than by dipping. The
herd of 100 cattle were kept in the tick free bottom land until
late in the season when 30 of them were turned out in tick
country. One herd of 25 was taken across the river. Three
herds v/ere kept by the owners on tick free areas until after tick
season. All of these animals had in previous 3^ears been pas-
tured in the worst of the tick countrv.
The first dipping of animals took place on May 7 and the
last on June to. Twenty-three horses and 137 cattle were dip-
ped during tlie season.
22 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
AVhen seen in the early part of the season the stock own-
ers while showing- a disinclination to dip seemed for the most
part willing- to take steps ag-ainst the tick by either hand-
picking- ov hy keeping the animals out of tick country. Until
the first of May very little inspection work was done, but after
this date it was carried on systematically and I believe from
that time on ver}'- few ticks escaped, except possibly in one lo-
cality where the attitude of the residents, who are foreigners,
was very unsatisfactory.
Several bunches of stock were turned out during March
and early April and we were unable to keep track of these until
the vat had been completed, and at that time of year a large
number of ticks were picked up. John Jacobson had his herd of
28 milk cows and others running on the unfenced hills north
of Bass creek from March on. Lena Hendrickson had her 8
milk cows, and Chas. Miles had 10 range cattle turned out on
the hills near the old camp during April and part of March.
Chas. Miles stock were hand-picked once in April and over 100
ticks were removed. It is probable that these two areas be-
came stocked with engorged females.
Carlton District.
In the early part of the season this district, lying north
of the Missoula-Ravalli count}- line, was looked over with a
view to establishing a control district. A census covering
the ranches north to IMcClain creek, an area of about 2,800
acres, gave the following statistics: 22 ranches, 379 horses
and cattle, an average of 17.2 per ranch, which were classified
as : Work horses, 90, average, 4 ; other horses, 23, average i ;
98 inilk cows, average 4.4; and 168 range cattle, average 7.6.
One 'hundred range cattle are owned by 3 men and these would
have composed most of the animals which would have been
dipped.
The feeling toward dipping aroused in the Florence dis-
trict last season was reflected in this locality and in looking for
a suitable vat location it was found that almost no one was
willing to- have it erected on his property. The chief reasons
advanced for this were that ticks would be brought to tiieir
land by the stock and that the neighbors would object to having
it located there. It was finall}^ decided not to install a vat
here for the followinig reasons ; the number of animals is small,
the amount of tick-infested territor}^ was thought to be quite
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
23
limited, lack of spotted fever cases indicate that infection is not
present and hearty co-operation could not be looked for.
To determine the extent of tick infestation an examination
of the stock in this territory was made during May and June
and the following records made: 99 horses with 279 ticks and
I2>6 cattle with 31 ticks. These include one bunch of horses
from the hills north of McClain creek and this observation
showed that ticks were more widely distributed between Carlton
and Lo Lo than had been previously suspected. The amount
of territory and number of stock which would be included in
a Carlton control district is considerably increased. The ex-
aminations took place at a time when cattle are very slightly
infested.
Woodman District.
This district is thought of as including that part of Lo Lo
canyon lying between Tom Magee's place, 5 miles east of
Woodman and Grave creek, 10 miles west of Woodman. A
censius made by Mr. A. E. Seamans in 1913 shows that in this
district there are lO ranches containing a total of 125 horses
and 224 cattle. To tliese numbers should be added the Ras-
mussen place with 31 cattle.
This region is in many places very heavily infected with
ticks in the valley as well as on the hills on the north side of
the canyon and extending back at least to the first ridge at
elevations from 5,000 to 6,000 feet. Grave creek. Bear creek, and
Woodman creek are often spoken of as foci of heavy infestations
and it was found that the stock on the Rasmussen place on Bear
creek and the Lachman place on Woodman creek were heavily in-
fested. The residents frequently speak of the killing of stock by
the ticks in early spring and it seems probable that in past years
the total loss from this source has been quite heavy. They
speak of finding the cattle "down with ticks," and when the
ticks are removed from along the back and neck the animals
quickly recover, but if left, the animal, being unable to stand,
will finally die. This result is due, I believe, not to loss of
blood as the ticks are never abundant, except on the back and
neck, but to some effect on the nervous sys.'lem owing tO' the
site of attachment. On April 23, three yearling cattle which
had been dead about two weeks were found on the Rassmussen
place and their death was attributed to ticks. A large number
were found still on the carcasses.
24 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
The residents all speak of the scarcity of ticks on the
south side of the creek, in the bottom and on the hills, and this
is proibably the case foir the most part. This condition is appar-
ently due to the fact that this side is heavily timbered and con-
sequently affords less favorable conditions for rodents and
pasturage for range stock.
The A^at was not ready for use until May i8, and it was not
our intention to do any general dipping of stock in this dis-
trict a^nd Avhat was done was in the way of demonstration.
Several of Lachman's horses and cattle were dipped and the
attention of other residents called to the fact that no injury re-
sulted. Tlie exaggerated reports -which have reached here of
the injury to stock last year caused the people to think that
harm was certain to result from the dipping.
The question of how to solve the tick question in this lo-
cality is a very difficult one. The residents are for the most
part slow to accept new ideas and still do not believe that the
tick is the infective agent. Also it seems natural with them to
oppose any solution that may be suggiested. With hearty co-
operation a dipping program could be conducted without much
trouble, but there are circumstances which make it questionable
whether such a program could be carried out so as to be suc-
cessful. Tlie mountains and canyons are steep, rough and un-
feuced, hv{ afford pasturage for several miles back from the
\'alley. Many of the horses and cattle are allowed to roam
at will from the opening of spring to fall and they wander back
into the mountains and are not seen for weeks at a time. This
is especially true of the horses Avhich have a tendency to feed
higher than do cattle. The residents feel that it would be im-
possible to find them and drive them in frequently for dipping
If eaich one took an active interest in the work, the icontrol of
of the domestic animals could be accomplished, but it seems
evident that they will not.
Another point is that the stock commence picking up ticks
as soon as tick activity begins, in ATarch and sometimes the
last of February. It has still to be determined whether they
can be dipped at this season of year without detriment.
In this locality we arc not prepared to assert that the dip-
ping of domestic animals alone will effect eradication of the
tick. Bears are fairly numerous and coyotes quite so and they
are undoubtecllv resyjonsible for a considerable number of
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY 25
eng'orged ticks. These animals are always killed when seen by
the residents and T doubt, if the offer of a bounty, unless of
considerable size, won id hasten tbeir destruction.
Tshe work of tick eradication will have to cover not only
the valley, but also for some distance back into tb'^' mountains.
It was decided to test the practicability of using- sheep as
tick collectors on the moimtain sides and a band of 300 were
herded near Woodman for several weeks in May and June. This
experiment was preliminary in nature and gave indefinite re-
sults.
Rodent Destruction.
It was decided to do some preliminary work in the destruc-
tion of rod en's b}^ the wholesale distribution of poisoned grain.
Air. R. W. We'lls was employed to carr}'- on this work and
arrived in Florence the last of Alarch.
The first squirrels of the season were noted on March 21.
By the last of the month squirrels had emerged quite abund-
antly in the warmer parts of the valley along the main road
and toward the river, and Air. Wells began testing the effect-
iveness of different poison formulae.
Commencinig April 6, two small crews of men were engaged
upon the distribu'tion of poisoned grain, the method being) to
place one bait at the entrance of each burrow.
On April 24 it was noticed that the poison put out the day
previously had hardly been touched by the squirrels and it
was concluded that they had ceased taking it, preferring in-
stead the green grass which had now gotten a g-ood start.
However, this explanation was hardly satisfactory, as earlier in
the month the animals had taken the grain, even where green
grass abounded and all of the animals which had been found
dead from the poison had been opened and in each ca^e the
stomach was full of grass. I believe that the sudden cessalion
of feeding had some connection with the rutting season.
The distribution of grain was dis*continued on this
date, approxim.ately one-third of the total area having been
covered. This area was confined to the uncleared brush-covered
foot-hills which are used as pasture lands and where tick infes-
tation is heavy. Sorne poisoned grain was given out among the
farmers and they used it on their own places.
In addition to the above work an area of about 800 acres
northwest of Florence was selected as an experiment tract and
26 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
poison, trapping and fumigation with carbon bisulplilde were
all used in reducing the number of ground squirrels. It was
proposed to allow horses and cattle to develop ticks in iJie
normal way without control and to determine what effect on
tiiclc abundance couid be brouglit about by the destruction of
rodents alone. About May 20 a bunch of 20 cattle were turned
in this field, but they kept wandering from here to the \nr\n
road and back and as some of the neighbors made ol'jections
to this they were called to the vat and dipped on May 27. It is
unlikely that any engorged ticks dropped from domestic nnirnals
in this field this season. Coyotes may have been responsible
for a few.
Between April 22 and 24 a total of seven days labor was
spent poisoning this area and approximately 320 acres were
covered. The poison was taken quite well until the last day
and even this grain was found to have been taken, in going o\rr
the land some time later.
Between A.pril 30 and May 22 a total of 14 days labor was
spent in trapping over this area with steel traps. The numbers
of animals caught were as follows :
Ground squirrels 135
Weasels 2
Pine squirrels 3
Chipmunks 3
Mice :',
After completing this Mr. Wells estimated that 40 or 50 grcvand
squirrels remained in the entire tract.
Considering the squirrels taken from the traps oy coyotes
and badgers, those killed by poison and those actually shot
and trapped, a very low estimate of ihe number destroyed ui
this area would be 250. (The number killed by poison alone
was certainly more than double this nimiber, for the number of
baits put out ran into tbe thousands). The data collected in
1910 and 191 1 showed that an average of about 75 nyn\])bi.s en-
larged on each ground squirrel during the season. According
to this we prevented the development of some 18,750 ticks in
this one area.
To test the attraction for squirrels of poisoned grain late
in the season, Mr. Stanley in Woodman and Mr. Wells in j'lor-
ence, distributed several hundred baits in selec':ed areas. We
were surprised and much pleased at the success of this treat-
\
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY 27
ment as it was estimated that around 70 per cent of the squir-
rels were destroyed. It w^as conchided that poisoning at this
time of the 3''ear was quite effective, but not so much so as
immedliately after the squirrels emerg^e in the spring, at which
time there are fewer squirrels, fewer holes to find and less
dense vegetation to hide the holes. Probably also a higher
proportion of the squirrels v/ill take the grain.
The success of the rodent work this year and the rather
striking theoretical results upon the ticks, have led me to feel
that it is of great importance to continue this part of the work
on a larjrer scale next vear.
28 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
A REVIEW OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER
ERADICATIVE WORK CONDUCTED BY THE UNIT-
ED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE IN THE
BITTER ROOT VALLEY, MONTANA.
By L. D. Fricks.
The United States Public Health Service has carried on in-
vestigiaitions of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the Bitter
Root valley since 1902, but it was not nnti'l 191 1 that the Serv-
ice began acti\'e eradicative work in the valley at the request
of and in co-o'peration with the Board of Health of the State
of Montana.
The eradicative measures inaugurated by Dr. AlcCIintic for
the Public Health Service in igii followed the recommendations
made by Dr. Ricketts as a result of his brilliant investigations
of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. They comprise the dipping
of the domestic animals known to harbor ticks and the killing
of small wild mamn'als. This work was begun in the infected
territory west of Victor, Montana, and has been continued there
along the same lines up to the present time.
In 1913 at the request of the State Board of Entomology,
the eradicative work in the valley was divided between the
Public PJealth Service and the Bureau of Entomology. Two
additional dipping vats were installed in the southern half of the
valley read}^ for operation at the beg»inning of the season of
1914.
There are then at present three dipping vats in the south-
ern half of the valley located as follows:
One west of Victor, erected in 191 1, one west of Hamilton,
erected in 1913, and one on Gold rreek erected in 1913.
The entire territory south of Big creek is divided into
three districts corresponding to the three vats, and all domes-
tic animals ranging in these districts are within easy driving
distance of their respective dipping vat. Under present condi-
tions, therefore, no additional vats are needed in the southern
half of the valley.
The following brief record of operations at the different
vats dnriu'g the season of 1914 is given:
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
29
Victor Vat: Filled April 4th; dipping began April 15,
having been delayed by cold weather, and continued until June
15th. All horses and cattle ranging over tick infested terri-
tory were regularly dipped at inter\'als of ten days, except at
the end of the season when frequent inspections showed" that
they were picking up no more ticks. Total number ot dipping,
horses 97, cattle 417. goats 21, sheep 1.191.
Hamilton Vat: Dipping began April 15th and continued
until June ist at intervals of from ten days t,o two weeks, so
long as animals were found to harbor ticks. Total number of
animals dipped, horses 7. cattle 127, sheep 500.
Gold Creek Vat; Dipping was begun late— April 22—
because the owners claimed that they had not turned their
stock out, and Avas continued until June i. Total number of
animals dipped, horses 8, cattle 247.
This was the first season of operation in the Gold Creek
district and some objections were raised by the owners to the
dipping of their animals. It is expected that they will co-oper-
ate more willingly hereafter and with this end in view drastic
measures vrere not pushed the first year.
The destruc-cion of small wild mammals has been continued
in the Victor district since 191 1, by shooting, trapping, poison-
ing and the use of carbon bisulphide. For the past two sea-
sons, carbon bisulphide pumps have been employed in co-
op'eration with the land owners in the three districts.
In -the Victor district, where the killing of small mammals
and the dipping of domestic live stock has been carried on for
four years, there has been a noticeable diminution in the num-
ber of ticks fonnd and in the cases of Rocky Mountain spotted
fever reported. In that part of the district south of Bear
Creek, where the live stock has been dipped but no small ani-
mals killed there has been no appreciable diminunition in the
number of tirks to be found.
The following conclusions, based on the eradicative meas-
ure employed in the southern part of the Bitter Root Valley
during the past four seasons, appear to be Avarranted:
The dipping of domestic animals is necessary when these
anmials are allowed to range over tick infested territory and
it should reduce the tick infestation in the vicinity of the
ranches.
30 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
The dipiMiig- of donie&tic animals alone will not eradicate
Rocky Mountain spotted fever from the Bitter Roct Valley.
Man}^ wood ticks, Dermacentor Andersoni, attach them-
selves around the ears and horns of cattle and are not de-
stroyed b}^ the ordinary dipping process.
Dipping- in April, after the tick season has opened, is
frequently interrupted by cold weather. The dipping solutoins
used should be heated by steam, as is done for sheep, or the
owners should be required by regulations to keep their live
stock up until the season is well advanced.
The killing of small wild animals has not been employed as
extensively as its value as a tick eradicative measure warrants.
With a view to extending our campaign against the wood
ticks of the Bitter Root Valley, investigation cf and experiments
with sheep grazing as a tick eradicative measure were begun
early in 1913, and were outlined at that time to- the State Board
of Entomology. Later the results were published in the Pub-
lic Health Reports. These experiments were continued in 1914,
by securing two bands of dry sheep and grazing them over
tick infested territory in the Victor and Hamilton districts
from April 15th to July 15th.
One band of 1,000 sheep was secured from Dr. G. T. ^Tc-
Culloug»h, Missoula, and the other of 500 sheep through Mr.
L. E. Wolgamuth, of Hamilton.
The sheep were searched frequently for ticks, and at the
conclusion of the experiment were sheared, dipped and return-
ed to the east side of the valley.
Some live ticks were found at the beginning of the ex-
periment, but practicall}^ none at the time of shearing.
It was impossible to tell how many ticks had been engorg-
ed and fertilized on the sheep except as indicated by former ex-
periments, bull it was established that twienty-five thousand
adult ticks died in the sheep's wool.
Upon the investigations and experiments so far conducted
in sheep grazing as a tick eradicative measure in the Bitter
Rodt Valley, the following conclusions have been reached :
Wood ticks, Dermacentor Andersoni, have been eradicated
from parts of the east side of the Bitter Root Valley by sheep
grazing alone.
The fact that they are not so eradicated from sheep ranges
which differ in topography and animal distribution from the
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY 31
Bitter Root vallc}'- has no bearing on our problems in the valley.
There is a zone of heavy tick and small animal infestation
jnst outside the cultivated fields from one to two miles wide
and extending practically the entire leng^th of the west side
of the Bitter Root Valley, while, generally speaking, there is
a scarcity of ticks and small animals found above this belt.
Started at the base, a sufficient number of sheep can be
profitably grazed over this territory to pick up practically all
of the ticks and from 85 to 90 per cent of these ticks will be
killed by the wool of the sheep.
By driving the sheep straight back into the mountains
before the engorged fertilized females are ready to drop off
for egg laying, the larvae when hatched will find few hosts for
attachment and hence die.
It is believed that this procedure offers the most feasible
method for the establishment in a shoTt time — two to three
years — of a tick free zone along the west side foot hills and
will eliminate Rocky Mountai'n spotted fever from the valley
proper. The grazing operations can be extended into the moun-
tains as the conditions warrant.
Under the methods of eradication previously employed
the problem of Rockv Mountain spotted fever extinction prom-
ises to drag along for years, with a considerable expenditure,
thus delaying the development of the valley and demanding each
season its small but certain toll of lives.
It is therefore recom.mended that the Montana State Board
of Entomology take steps to secure the co-operation of the
Forest Service and the sheep owners in and near the Bitter
Root valley, and the land owners of the west side, with a view
to promoting on the mosit extensive scale practicable, and under
proper supervision, the sheep grazing industry on the west
side of the Bitter Root valley.
(i) McClintic, T. B. — Investigations of and tick eradica-
tion in Roeky jNTountain spotted fever. Pub. Health Rep., U.
S. Public Health and Mar.-H'ealth Serv., Wash. Govt. Print.
Office, 1912, XXVII, 732-760.
(2) Fricks, I^. D. — Roicky Mountain spotted fever. Pub.
Health Rep., U. S. Pub. Health and Mar. -Health Serv., Wash.
Govt. Print. Qiffice, August 8, 1913, XXVIII.
Fricks, L. D. — Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Reprint No,
169, from the Pub. Health Reports, February 20, 1914.
32 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
THE HOUSE FLY.
In a newly settled state like Montana, where many new
towns are springinc^ np and where much construction work is
under wa}^, entailing the maintenance of camps for the housing
and feeding of laborers and work animals, conditions are natur
ally such as to make the fly problem a particularly important
and difficult one. The great majoirity of the towns have no
sewer system and it would be unreasonal^le to require them to
establish sewers in most of them. In such towns flies abound,
and, on the other hand, the conditions are such as to afford
many opportunities for flies to visit both contaminated ma-
terials and human habitations. It is Avell known that the dis-
charges from the bodies of typhoid patients carry the germs of
this disease. The flies may retain the living germs for a sur-
prisinigly long time. Levy and Kayser found them to persist
in a cemented privy vault up to five momths, and one author
(Delaphine) states that they will survive in a privy vault for
a year. A certain per cent of recovered cases of typhoid fever
become clironic carriers and deposit living orpanisms with the
feces. There are also large numbers of mild unrecognized cases
of this disease which are a source of infection, and finally^ many
convalescents carry and deposit the organisms for some weeks.
The danger from the liouse fly and from other flies of sim-
ilar iiabits arises from the fact that they very commonly visit
human feces, entangling the infective materials on the feet
and on the body and ingesting them also into the intestinal
tract and then pass to our kitchens, dining rooms, restaurants,
grocery stores and markets and cra\yl over and apply the moutli
parts to the food supplies. Opportunity is thus afforded for the
transfer of the germs of typhoid fever and of other disorders,
such as diarrhea and dysentery, directly tO' the places where
tihey are most in be feared. That flies are an important factor
in the spread of tliese diseases cannot be doul^ted.
In the light of what is said above, anyone who is familiar
with the condition that prevails in small towns is aware that
tlie public is exposed to grave dangers.
The following description is made at random and does not
apply to any particular town or railroad. The main street is
at right angles to the railway and the business part of town is
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
33
along, the main street, where a few grocery stores, markets, soft
drink fountains, saloons and restaurants occur. On this street
also are one or -two livery stables, with vast accumulations of
horse manure in the rear. Along the parallel streets and cross
streets are numerous home barns with manure piles close bv in
the alley. Along- these alleys also are privies and the houses
are often poorly screened. Around the hotels and saloons the
conditions are particularly noticeable. In the small hotels,
such as are found in these small towns, a kitchen, a dinmg- room
and g-enerally a saloon are found and in the rear is a privy.
Screen doors are usually present and conform to the law, but
the doors are opened many times a day, and the flies gain
entrance.
The proprietor of tlie ho«te.l. the saloon keeper, the owner
of the restaurant and the residents of the town are fig-hting
an unequal battle against the flies. Science has not yet pointed
out a reasonable practical way to get rid of them. They breed
principally in fermenting horse manure and it is no wonder
that they swarm in these small towns. The usual "swat the fly"
campaign has not amounted to much and we still have flies
spreading disease and reducing the earning capacity of the peo-
ple and often leading to death.
House Fly Work Undertaken.
On March 24, T914, the Board of Entomology adopted the
following resolutions :
Whereas, It is scientifically established and g*enerally
accepted that the house fly or typhoid fly, scientifically known
as Musca domestica, is a carrier of typhoid fever, tuberculosis,
infantile diarrhea and other diseases of human beings, and
Whereas, It is known that both these diseases and the
house fly are found within the State of Montana, and
Whereas, We believe that much may be accomplished to-
ward a mitigation of the above named human diseases by con-
trolling oir eradicating the house fly, therefore, be it
Resolved,
(i) That the Montana State Board of Entomology take
steps to investigate and control or eradicate the house fly in
Montana.
34 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
FLY INSPECTION SERVICE.
Recognizing' that flies have much to do with the spread
of diseases, especially those of the intestinal type, a special
inspector was employed during 1914 by the Board to visit places
in the State where foods are sold, stored or handled and de-
termine their sanitary status especially with reference to the
abundance of flies and the conditions which favor their multi-
plication. Where conditions were found to be unsanitary a
clean up was ordered and subsequent visits were made to see
b'hat directions had been carried out.
Following is a detailed list of the inspections made:
Dairies 12
Hotels and Restaurants 178
Confectioneries and Bake Shops 14
Meat Markets and Slaughter Houses 74
Other Places 78
Construction Camps iii
Total 467
HOUSE FLY INVESTIGATIONS.
In accordamce with the foregoing resolutions, the Secre-
tary proceeded to secure the services of an entomologist to
undertake the necessary investigations. Through D'r. H. T.
Fernald of the Department of Fntomology, of the Massachu-
setts Agricultural College, we engaged Mr. Ralph R. Parker,
a graduate of the College and at present a post-graduate student,
who arrived in Montana during June and continued Into Sep-
tember, When he returned tO' his studies in Massachusetts. His
report on the work in Montana was completed after his return
to Amherst.
It is believed that excellent progress was made during the
one season's work. Mr. Parker is particularly well qualified
for such an investigation and a large mass of information was
secured as a result of his diligence. He submitted an extensive
report giving in detail the results of his studies which is too
voluminous to be here printed. In its place a summary is pre-
sen(ted as follows :
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY 35
SUMMARY OF "REPORT TO THE MONTANA
STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY CONCERNING FLY
INVESTIGATIONS CONDUCTED IN THE YELLOW-
STONE VALLEY DURING THE SUMMER OF 1914."
Ralph R. Parker, M. _Sc.
This summary is a brief statement of the more important
results obtained during preliminary observations and experi-
mental research undertaken for the following- purposes as set
forth by Trof. R, A. Cooler, Secretary of the State Board of
Entomolog}'.
1. ]_)etermine the i)rincina] lireecHng places of liouse
flies under the conditicins wliicli ])revail in the smaller towns in
Montana.
2. Determine wliat flies, other than Musca domestica are
commonly found in such towns at such places as sewer oiitlets
on the river banks. ]:)rivy vaults, barns, residences and public
eating houses.
3. Determine the seasonal history of M. domestica in
Montana, answerir.g such questio'us as, (i) When the adults
first appear in the s])ring o-r early summer, (2) The dates
through which flies may fairly be said to be abundant, (3)
When the maximum alnuidance occurs, (4) When the fly sea-
son closes.
4. Get all the information possil^le on the extent or degree
of danger of flies visiting both human extreta and human foods
under conditions prevailing in Montana.
5. ^lake preliminarv tests of substances which have else-
where been found useful as destroyers of fly larvae.
6. Make observations of conditions in Montana wdiich
would be useful in outlining a detailed program of fly control,
covering such points as means and methods of destroying waste
organic matter of all sorts aroamd residences, public eatings
places, markets, liverv stal)les, and other places wdiere oTganic
matter accumulates.
7. Secure photograpihic records of existing conditions
where^xr possible.
36 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
8. Make complete and detailed notes of all work done
and of conditions ias found.
9. Preserve alcoholic and pinned speciments for future
study.
Since an invesitigation of the latitude outlined above is a
matter of several years v/ork the specific objects of the summer
field work were as now designated.
a. To determine the principal breeding- places of Musca
domestica L. and its life history under Montana iconditions, as-
certaining such points as during what portion of the season it
is abundant and when it is present in greatest abundance; also
to collect incidental data concerning individual history, habits,
and natural enemies.
b. To determine what other flies than Musca domestica L.,
because of their habits, may be considered to be of actual
or potential importance as causative agents of disease or as
conveyors of icommunicable intestinal diseases; also to collect
data concerning their life 'history and habits.
€. To determine those conditions in Montana wbich wrill
be useful in outlining a program of fly control — that is, con-
di'itions which are favorable to the breeding and miultiplication
of flies on the one hand, and on the other, conditions which will
either enhance or limit the effectiveness of control measures.
d. To conduct control experiments.
The town of Laurel was selected as headquarters for all
intensive v/ork. An old store, conveniently situated in relation
to other buildings, ^vas selected as a laboratory and fitted with
apparatus from the State College at Bozeman. Facilities and
equipment were not such, however, as to permit bacteriological
work. A temporary breeding house and an experimental ma-
nure container for house fly work were constructed in the rear
of the laboratory and late in the summer an experimentally
combined maggot trap and manure box. Some phases of the
work were carried on under rather unsatisfactory conditions
during the first part of the summer due to the fact that 'certain
equipment ordered from Bo^ston and other eastern points was
very late in arriving. From time to time visits were made
to other towns and ^cities in the Yellowstone Valley — Billings,
Hluntley, Worden, Forsyth, Miles City, Park City, Joilet and
Red Lodge. For information of a local character health offi-
cers were freelv consulted. The actual field work was con-
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLGY 37
ducted between July i and September i with the aid of Mr.
T. J. Kinsella, a student from the State College. The records
were put into shape and the final report written after the
writer's return to pursue his work at the Entomological Labora-
Itiory of the Massachusetts Agricultural College.
At the conclusion of active operations in the field the
pinned and alcoholic bpecimens which constituted an important
part of the records of the summer inves,tigation were deposited
with Prof. R. A. Cooley.
Due to the wide range covered by the investigation and
the comparatively short time that could be devoted to any one
phase certain of the resuks should be considered as indicatiive
rather than positive.
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
STATEMENT OF EXPERIMENTS, METHODS AND
RESULTS.
(a)
To determine the principal breeding places of Musca do-
mestica L., (and incidentally of other flies) and its seasonal
history under Montana conditions, ascertaining such points* as
when it may be said to be abundant and when it is present iri
greatest abundance ; also to collect incidental data concerning
individual history, habits and natural enemies.
To determine tlic breeding- places of the house fly (and
other flies) various substances Avere collected and flies bred
therefrom. Exhaustive investigiations were impossible but a suf-
ficient number of experiments were carried thnougb and obser-
vat'i'ons made to indicate that so far as this particular question
Avas concerned, Montana conditions were essentially the same
as in otlier sections where no work has been done. The mater-
ials used for breedinig were human ex-crement and that of
various domestic animals, garbag'c and other waste substances.
For collecting' these, pint and quart liquid-tight pasteboard con-
tainers were used and were found both sanitary and econo-
mical. At the laboratory the materials were placed vn wooden
breeding boxes which were insect and odor proof. A total of
39 experimeuts were performed and an accurate record kept of
the number of flies of each species bred and the dates of
emergence.
Due to the late date at whicli field operations were started
and tlicir earlv conclusion no personal observations were pos-
sible to indicate wh.en this fly appears in the spri*ng and "dis-
appears" in the fall. At best, no arbitrary limits could have
been set. To ascertain its abundance during the summer
months five "stations" representing" different conditions were
selected and a FTodge trap placed at each five days of each week.
The same bait was used throughout, collections made at the
same time each day, and conditions kept as nearly the same
as possible at all times. A daily record was kept not only
of the meml^ers of the house fly but also of all other species
captured between July 7 and August 28 and of temperature
and weather conditions.
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY 39
In order to determine the individual history of the house
fly and to make observations on the migirating- habits of the
larvae a specially constructed manure -cage of small mesh
chicken wire was used. This was covered by a fly tight box of
larger size so built as to permit access to the cage and manure
within. Two ex])eriments were conducted. Fresh manure was
obtained in sufficient quantites at a local livery stable. In
the first experiment the manure cage was merely blocked up
from the ground, but in the second a galvanized iron maggot
trap was used and observations made on natural enemies
wOthin the manure and migration habits were more closely
watched.
During the last few days of the w^ork several observations
were made on the fligfht of flies. Tliey were permitted to feed
naturally on colored syrup placed at a privy and when after-
wards captured identified by the colored oontents of the ab-
domen. The marking of flies in this manner has certain ad-
vantages over spraiing them.
Results.
Breeding Experiments. A total of 13,353 ^^i^s were bred,
representing 11 fan.vilies and more than 40 species. From ex-
periments with iiuman excrement collected in privies and out
of doors, 3,862 were reared. In one instance 970 flies were bred
from a single stool exposed one day in a back alley. As far
as the house fly was concerned except for one specimen bred
from decomposing fish and one from human excrement, all the
records were from horse manure.
Seasonal History Experiments. The total catch of flies for
an eig'ht week period was 96.114. representing some 25 species;
88,245 were house flies. The other species present in greatest
alDundance were Muscina stabulans (Fall.) -3473. Lucilla seri-
cata I Me'.g. )-T45r'. and Fannia sps 2294 (including F. scalaris
( I'abr. ) F. canicularis (L.) and F. sp.) Other families repre-
sen>ted were the Sarcophagidae (so called flesh-flies), Ortalidae,
Culicidae ( mosquitoes) and Sapromyzidae.
Tabulated results indicated that house fies may be con-
sidered to be abundant until a.t least the first of September.
They are present in greatest numbers throughout the month of
August and in greatest abundance during the first week, thoiig^h
it is probable that there should have been but little ntnuerical
difference fluring the first three weeks. Their decrease was
40 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
coincident with a decrease in the weekly average temperature,
but it is probable that the temperature factor was of no great
value due to the manner in which the records had to be made.
No relaition was noted between the number captured and the
kind of day.
Manure Cage Experiments. From these it was found that
the minimum time required from the deposition of the egg to
the emergence of the adult was lo days. It was noted that all
the larvae left the manure to pupate and were captured in the
maggot trap beneath the cage (in the second experiment.).
This is due in part to natural mig-ratory habits and in part to
artificial conditions. Certain beetles and beetle larvae were
foaind associated with the hiotise fly larvae and pupae and in
one instance nearly 50 per cent of the puparia examined were
found to 'have been destroyed by some natural enemy. Larvae
were also killed in large numbers. Experiments showed, that
in all probability Staphylinid beetles were the destroyers and
ithait perhaps they play a more important part in the economy
of the manure pile than has been realized. Indeed, I feel con-
vinced that the number of adults that emerged was by no
means commensurate with the great numbers of eggs laid on
the manure and that larval (sometimes pupae) mortality, from
predaceous enemies and undetermined causes, is high. Un-
fortunately it seems unlikely that these factors can be con-
trolled.
Dispersion Experiment. While the experiment to trace
the flight of flies was conducted but 3 days at the conclusion of
the field work, still flies were recovered at a meat market 300
yards from the bait and at several residences at shorter dis-
tances.
Life History of Musca Domestica L. From the results
noted and from other sources and experiments the probable
life history of the house fly in Montana can be briefly outlined.
Breeding probably begins sometime in June, possibly earlier
or later, depending on the season and location within the State.
The females then deposit their eggs, maiinly in fres'h horse
manure, but sometimes in other fermenting materials and
waste. As. at least 95 per cent breed in horse manure we are
mainly ro'u'cerned with the life history of the fly in this material.
The eggs are either deposited in the manure pile down to a depth
of several inches or else upon the freshly dropped material within
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY 41
the stable, which is later thrown out. Under summer condi-
tions these hatch in 24 hours or less and the larvae live a more
or less migratory existence in the outer portion of the manure
avoiding both the light at the surface and the ihighly heated
portions of the manure within. In from three tO' five days
they are ready to pupate and internal stimuli cause them to
seek a dry place which, as a rule, is either at the periphery of
the pile or even in the ground or elsewhere beyond its limits.
There are perhaps several factors determining the place of pu-
pation as brought out in the preceeding discussion. After be-
tween four and six days spent in the puparia the adult?
emerge and the females are fertilized probably within a short
time. Several batches of eggs are deposited at intervals (400
to 600 are estimated totals). From deposition of the eggs to
em,ergence of adults requires at least 10 days, rarely a shorter
time, and probably a day or twO' longer in many cases. Allow-
ing several days more before the females deposit their eggs,
two^ weeks should be a conservative estimate of the time re-
quired for a sing^le generation. It would probably more oflten
be longer than shorter. This, however, is under favorable
summer conditions, and the further we go toward spring or fall
the longer the developmental periods. To attempt to give the
possible number of generations a season would be mere guess
work. The adults are most abundant during August. They
begin to disappear in the fall with the advent of cold weather,
ithough stragglers are often seen late in the season and even on
warm days during the winter. It is quite generally believed
that the flies hibernate as adults, but it is possible that somie
pass the winter as pupae.
(b)
To determine what other flies than Musca domestica L.,
because of their habits, may be considered to be of actual or
potential importance as transmitting agents of communicable
intestinal diseases; also to collect data concerning their life'
history, habits, etc.
In the experiments involved in the previous section certain
data beloinging under this head were collected. In the experi-
ments to determine the seasonal abundance of the house fly, a
record v/as kept for all species captured thus indicating what
other flies migihit be found in abundance under the same condi-
42 REPORT OF-" STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
tioiis. From the breeding- experiments those species wliich
breed in human e.xcrement were noted.
()ther ex]:)erimeniLS and collections made solely for the
al)ove stated purpose were made. T/he most interesting of these
was a "privy trap experiment" designed to determine what spe-
cies of flies frequented excreta in privies, an important ques-
tion due to the very unsatisfactory type of privy in general
use. A specially constructed trap was fitted to the back of a
privy having an open vault. Flies were then obliged to enter
the pri'vv by means of the open door and uncovered seats.
After ^•isii;ing llie excreta a certain proportion attempting to
leave l:)y the o]iening in the rear, were captured in the trap;
others, of course could leave l)y the same means they entered.
In another series of experiments flies were trapped in the
ojjen with human excrement as a bai't to learn what species fre-
c|uented excrement under outdoor conditions.
A record was also kept of flies frequenting- g-arbage and of
those captured in houses, stores, etc. From these records and
the above it was possible to learn which species of Montana
flies '.hat frequent or breed in excreta and other waste also fre-
(jucnt residences, soin"ces of food su]:)plies and human foods.
Results.
Excluding Culicidae at least 50 species of flies were found
whicli l^red in oir frequented Jniman excrement in the open or
in ]^ri^■ics some almost entirely, others in greater or less abund-
ance. Of these same species 25 were either captured in resi-
dences or were known to freciuent them. Of 42 d&termined
species and others captured on garbage, 26 also were captured
or bred from human excrement and 18 kno'Wii tO' frequent both
human excrement and residences.
Records made of flies occuring in public eatimg hocuses,
provision stores and saloons were made principally from ex-
amination of flies captured on sticky fly paper but to some ex-
tent irnm observation and traps. These were necessarily far
less comi:)lete than the records given above. In public eating
houses 10 speci'es were noted, all of which frequented excreta
and g-arbage, and 9 at least were found in houses ; on s'.icky
fly paper in saloons 7 species and others which could not lie
determined, all also occurred on garbage and human excrement
and 6 in houses; in prcnision stores 13 species and others un-
determined, of which 10 Avere known to frequent human ex-
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY 43
crement. 9 o-a.rbage and 7 houses. The records are presented
in this fasliion to show that many of the same species are
found in houses and proAnsion stores, and on garbage and ex-
crement, thus indicating that control measures against adults
must extend beyond tlie limits of the houses and stores to ma-
terials which attract flies outside.
Of flies captured on g;arbage the house fly probably consti-
tuted 90 per cent ; of those captured in the "privy trap experi-
ment," 8.94 per cent ; of those taken in the open with human
excrement as a bait. 21.81 per cent. Ravinia communis R. Pkr.,
Ravania peniculata R. Pkr., and Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis
Meig. (Sancophagidae) were bred very abundantly from human
excrement and the first two species also breed in horse, cow
and pig dung. They are probably primary breeders in fecal
matter and while usually occurring but occasionally in houses
under some condition will undoubtedly be rather plentiful.
Certain writers have stated that species of this family com-
monly occur on human foods. As regards excreta in surface
privies and in the open they may perhaps be of some service
at least as far as tlie results of the field work indicated. Ovi-
parous species fthe members of this family are viviparous)
which are more commonly found in houses and on food, are
prevented from maturing by these flies.
Oiwing to the great attractiveness of beer for various spe-
cies of excreta-frequenting; flies, their presence in saloons may
perhaps be of im.portance.
Flies of the genera Leptocera and Scatopse seem to be
worthy of further investigation. Flies of certain species of
both these genera, especiall}^ the former breed in and fre-
quent human excrement in great abundance and also occur
in houses. A species of Scatopse was found quite abundantly
in houses and on several occasions noted on human foods. The
only research with Avhich the v/riter is acquainted dealing with
flies of the genus Leptocera indicated that they will fly con-
siderable distances for water and flies captured in houses
were found to have their abdomens distended with fecal
matter. Where water is stored in carelessly covered barrels
out-of-doors it might well be infected by these flies. They are
very small and screens afford no protection against them.
They also breed in horse manure and other animal excrement
44 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
very abundantly. As far as horse manure is concerned if
properly treated for house fly control these species would prob-
ably be controlled also.
Oither species which seemed of notential importance were
Muscina stabulans (Fall.). Lucilia sericata (Meig.), Lucilia cae-
sar (L.), Phormia regina (Meig.), Caliphora erythrocephala
Meig.). C. coloradensis Hough, C.latifrons Hough. Fannia seal-
aris (Fabr.), F. canicularis (L.), Drosophila ampelophila L.,
Piophila casei (L.) and others of less interest.
Among the diseases which it dias been shown Oir suggested
that the house fly and other Montana flies may transmit are
summer diarrhoea, typhoid fever, dysentery, cholera and other
intestinal infections, smallpox, measles, scarlet fever, and
other exanthematous diseases, erysipelas, anthrax, glanders, and
other skin infections, also gonorrheal opthalmia, diphtheria,
tuberculosis, leprosy and certain diseases that are localized in
certain parts of the world. At least 12 of the species dealt with
have been found in various kinds of myiasis. Flies are also con-
cerned as transmitters or causitive agents of various diseases of
cattle, horses, etc.
(c)
To determine those conditions in Montana which will be
useful in outlining a program of fly control — that is, conditions
which are favorable to the breeding and multiplication of flies
on the one hand, and on the other, conditions which w^ill either
enhance or limit the effectiveness of control measures.
Local conditions were studied as closely as possible and
visits made to ot'hcr towns and cities referred to in the intro-
duction. The subject can best be treated by a consideration of
factors concerned from the standpoint of town and city condi-
tioiis.
Privies.
From the point of view of this investigation we are con-
cerned with the accessibility of excreta to flies. Privies per-
mitted this from two causes — faulty construction and careless-
ness of persons using them. In the strict sense of the word
few privies v,-ere fly proof, nearly all permitting the entrance of
flies with greater or less freedom. Privy seait covers were
apparently a rarity — they were noted in but few instances —
and in a fair proportion of cases there was only a crosspiece.
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY 45
This, coupled with the fact that nearly one-half of privy doors
are left wide open more or less ihabitually, gives flies praidti-
cally unobstructed access to the excreta. Certain railroad priv-
ies and sometimes those at hotels in small towns were among'
the worst instances noted, though conditions at many ranches
were no better. The conditions at saloon privies were frequent-
ly especially bad, an important consideration when we under-
stand how abundantly flies are attracted to such vicinities by
empty 'cases, barrels, etc. Reference has already been made to
the fajct that in the privy trap experiment, 9,776 were capitusred
at a privv in one month, representing only a part of the visitors.
The importance of the adoption of a sanitary and fly-proof type
of privv cannot be questioned.
Excreta in the Open.
This refers to feical matter within or near town limits. In
an experiment fully described .in my detailed repoirt, 970 flies
were bred from a single stool deposited in a back alley: this
does not consider the number which crawl over it during 24
hours exposure. Defecations in suich places are as likely as
not to com^e from a typhoid carrier capable of expelling bac-
teria in the urine or feces and are always a menace. For the
same reason the common practice of urinating in the rear of
saloons is dangerous.
Garbage.
As flv control is a question of several factors, the problem
of the care and disposal of all substances ^v^hich attract flies is
one of practical importance. Unprotected garbage attracts flies
in great num'bers to the vicinity of markets, public eating
houses and residenices. While I found, among the local healt'h
officers, a general appreciation of the necessity for the proper
care of such materials, yet conditions were generally bad. Even
in cities where garbage was collected at the public expense it
was left uncovered for days at a time in receptacles scarcely
worthy of the name. In some instances efforts were being
made to correct these conditions.
Refuse.
By this term I refer to waste matter other than garbage,
such as ashes, rubbish, street filth, etc. Horse manure properly
comes under this head but is discussed separately. Suffice it to
sav that accumulations of this character were common in all
46 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
towns and cities and not only attracted flies but sometimes fur-
nished breeding places. They are unsightly and encourage un-
cleanliness. and fly control concerns not only cleanliness within
the house but environmental cleanliness as well.
Horse Manure.
-As the principal breeding ground of the house fly (other
flies also breed in it abundantly) horse manure deserves spe-
cial attention. When we consider the thousands of flies that
m.ay breed even in a fevv^ pounds of manure, and allowing a daily
average production of 15 to 25 pounds per horse, the immense
number which must be breeding out daily in cities and towns
where the manure is in piles and uncared for can scarcely be
imagined. The city of Billings was the only place visited where
any systematic attempt was made to keep flies from manure
and prevent their breeding. Here a type of manure box was
in use in certain parts of the city and while inefiPicient in some
respects, yet did a certain amiount of good. In some towns
livery stables were required to remove their manure at short
interA^als but in other cases it accumulated for weeks at a time.
In stables from which the manure was not cleaned out daily
flies were always found breeding in the manure and around the
stalls. In spite of some opinions to the contrary many corrals
afforded suitable conditions for fly breeding. In many in-
stances the presence of manure serves to attract flies to locali-
ties where the}^ will frequent substances such as excreta in
privies to a greater extent than v/ould otherwise be the case.
Sewer Outlets.
Sewer outlets become important when the discharge is not
sufficiently distant from the town limits.
:d)
Control.
Efforts to control the house fly must be directed along
several lines which are designated in order of their importance.
1. To control or eliminate breeding places.
2. To keep covered and effectively dispose of substances
which attract these flies such as human excrement, garbage,
manure and refuse.
3. To prevent the entrance of flics into buildings.
4. To pirevent the contamination of food.
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY 47
5. Finally to trap, poison, or O'therwise dispose of such
flies as do g-ain admission to buildings in spite of other measures
of control.
I have previous]}' mentioned the fact that as our food sup-
plies come to a large extent from rural or semi-rural districts,
fly control outside the cities and towns is an important ques-
tion. It has, however, been but little dealt with and offers
distinct problems from city control. Its importance in Mon-
tana must be appreciated when we realize that there are but
few sizable cities and many of the small towns approach rural
conditions ; its discussion in this connection, however, must
await direct investigation. Furthermore, this report points out
certain conditions to be controlled and results to be attained,
rather than to tell how ; and some of the factors to be dealt with
are not for the entomologist alone.
(t) To control or Eliminate Breeding Places.
Control in Horse Manure. As probably 95 per cent of house
flies breed in horse manure this becomes the firstt consideration
in control. Absolutely effective measures demand that it be
kept in proper receptacles while within town or city limits and
its removal from the town or city at frequent intervals (at least
during the fly season). Two important nuestions are, how fre-
quent removals should be and what its ultimate disposal. As
far as removal is concerned, efficiency of results demands at
least twice a week at certain seasons and daily when large
accumulations such as are found at livery stables are concerned.
It may be possible, however, to lengthen the intervals if proper
measures are taken for caring for the manure. If manure is
merely to be taken a given distance from the city and dumped,
this distance will depend on several factors — the treatment of
the manure before removal, environmental conditions outside
the city, etc. Economically it is best that the manure be
put to proper use and control measures should aim to pre-
serve its fertilizing value. In many instances Montana con-
ditions probably prevent the sale of manure as commonly
practiced in some sections of the country.
Control in Human Excrement. The importance of prevent-
ing flies from breeding in excreta and from contaminating them-
selves with fecal bacteria is prol)a]>ly universally recognized.
This result must be attained by the interest of the individual
in the public welfare and by properly constructed privies where
48 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
sewer connections are impossible as they will be in some sec-
tions. Some types of sanitary privies that ihave been advo-
cated are not fly proof.
Control in Garbage and Refuse. By keeping garbage
in closed receptacles of a proper nature and its periodical re-
moval the breeding of flies in such material may be almost
eliminated. Refuse of various kinds must also be cared for.
(2) Protection of Materials Which Attract Flies.
Under this heading- I refer particularly to materials which
are out-of-doors — manure, garbag-e and excrement in privies.
Access of flies to these materials should be prevented and the
odors which draw^ them confined as much as possible. Proper
care and control of substances in which flies breed largely ac-
complish this purpose.
(3) To Prevent the Entrance of Flies.
This is accomplished by screening, in the main ; its prac-
tical benefits are well know^ and need not be further dis-
cussed. Repellents are sometimes used about doors, etc.
(4) To Prevent the Contamination of Food.
Even in the best kept residences flies will gain admission
and exposed foods should be protected. The question of pro-
tection, however, extends beyond the home to sources of food
supply and food during its transportation. Fruit and provision
stores are attractive enough to flies without baiting them with
accumulatio-ns of garbagte and refuse.
(5) Trapping and Killing Adults.
.Scientifically, perhaps this would seem to be the least im-
portant of fly control measures, but while scientific methods
will go far to eliminate the "swat-the-fly" campaign, still there
will alwa3^s be flies that need personal attention. Trapping,
poisoning, and "swatting" may be applied as fancy or exigency
dictate. In a screened house fly baits seem unsatisfactory for
the most part.
Difficulties to Be Met With in Control Work.
The most important contributing factor to the ultimate suc-
cess of control is the individual, for although some measures
must be communual. their complete success requires the as-
sistance of the individual. Such interest can only be cieated
by an educational campaign to make each person appreciate that
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY 49
not only are the best interests of the community involved, but
that his personal well being- is also concerned.
Another factor of serious import is the varied conditions
to be met. Measiires adapted to cities may become a burden to
smaller communities and rural conditions are still another prob-
lem. Control must be upon an elastic basis such that the
greatest efficiency possible will be everywhere attained and yet
local condition must not be lost sig'ht of.
Disposal of manure and garbage is a question for further
investigation. Montana conditions do not seem to be adapted
at present for their profitable use in most instances.
Another very pertinent question concerns the loical health
officers. However earnest and well intentioned they may be,
how can they intellig^ently and efficiently carry on that part of
their work which has to do Avith control measures unless
familiar with the ins and outs of the fly problem?
An Experimental Manure Box.
The idea of destroying migrating larvae was incorporated
into the construction of a manure box for experimental purposes
in the hope that its use would suggest alterations and improve-
ments eventually leading to something of practical usefulness.
The results were very satisfactory as far as the work was
carried
A manure box of this type possesses certain advantages over
the simple box ordinarily used. It results in the self-destruction
of nearly all larvae, it prevents possible larval migration from
the box to hatch elsewhere as adults ; it permits the advanta-
g»eous use of larvicidal substances; and renders the collection
of manure more than once a week unnecessary.
A structure incorporating the idea of the maggot trap could
well be built within the stable structure itself insuring greater
protection against flies and removing the necessity for unsightly
receptacles outside. The more one considers the great adapta-
bility of the maggot trap idea the greater seems its pos-
sibilities.
A Few General Conclusions.
I. As far as the summer's Work may be taken as an indi-
cation, the possibilities for a state-wide campaign seems favor-
able. Tt will, of cource, be necessary to start at the root of
the fly evil (ignorance, uncleanliness, and accumulations of
50 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
waste) and build up gradually. City and town conditions are
easiest dealt with and their control could be initiated during
further investigations to^ ascertain rural problems and methods
applicable to them, yet even for the former, further experimental
work and a more thorough understanding of economic condi-
tions are necessary before actual results can be attained.
2. Fly control measures are essentially sanitary measures
for communal cleanliness and the public health and welfare.
They are measures compelling simple cleanliness and call for
no effo'rts on the part of the individual or community but those
which comirion decenc}^ self-interest and civic pride should
dictate.
3. An adequate and com.prehensive system for the control
of the house fly will go far toward controlling other flies of
actual or potential interest mentioned in the detailed report.
4. Control m.easures cannot be safely initiated on a larg>a
scale without a thorough appreciation of varying conditions in
different communities and an elastic basis on which tO' work.
5. Control wathin the city and larger towns in communal
to a greater extent than in the small town. As we go from
the well organized city first to the larger town, then to the
small, and finalh^ to rural conditions control becomes less and
less intensive from the community standpoint and more and
more so from the standpoint of the individual.
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