12 MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 425 



Savings due to control operations were $1,057,486, with farmers 

 and gardeners spreading 1,217 tons of bait on 244,500 acres. 



Federally Financed Control in 1944 



It was planned that a repeat baiting job would be done in 

 Yellowstone County in the spring of 1944 to further reduce the 

 threatening population there. It was also planned to extend the 

 area to include parts of Big Horn. Stillwater, and Carbon counties. 

 However, the fall baiting of 1943 and other factors combined to 

 so reduce the population that further baiting was unnecessary in 

 Yellowstone County. Infestations in the other counties were spot- 

 ty, and heavy rains, which filled ditches, precluded the possibility 

 of effective baiting. Consequently an area-wide campaign was 

 abandoned in this area. 



TABLE 3.— SUMMARY OF GRASSHOPPER CONTROL PROGRAM 



1943 1944 



Number of counties actively engaged 



Number of mixing stations 



Persons using bait (includes Victory Gardeners) 



Dry bait used (tons) 



Acres baited 



Estimated losses 



Estimated savings 



An extensive roadside campaign was also organized for a sec- 

 tion of the Triangle area comprising the eastern parts of Pondera 

 and Teton counties and the western part of Chouteau County. Egg 

 surveys in this area showed a large percentage of the eggs de- 

 posited in field margins and roadsides and it seemed an ideal spot 

 to carry on such a program. Again weather interfered to delay 

 the program and when it finally got under way weed growth was 

 extensive. Negligible kills were obtained from bait usage and the 

 campaign was discontinued. This was one of the most discouraging 

 failures of bait to control 'hoppers. 



As the season progressed bait efficiency increased and it was 

 decided to attempt a fall baiting program in the Camas Prairie, 

 Hot Springs, Lonepine, and Plains communities of Sanders Coun- 

 ty. The population in Sanders County was predominately M. mex- 

 icanus and differed somewhat in that respect from the Yellow- 

 stone County population where M. bivittatus was an important 

 species. Adult surveys showed threatening to severe populations 

 with concentrations in areas where green foliage was present, pri- 

 marily alfalfa. 



In the Camas Prairie community practically the entire area 

 was baited. Excellent cooperation was obtained from farmers, 



