6 MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 425 



high as 75 percent of the eggs and in other areas ground beetles 

 took an equal toll. It was estimated that an average of 25 percent 

 of the eggs were destroyed by these predators. 



Yellowstone and Big Horn counties experienced the most se- 

 vere infestations. On the whole, however, infestations failed to 

 develop as expected, probably, in part because of the climatic con- 

 ditions and predation of eggs previously mentioned. Another im- 

 portant controlling factor that may be easily overlooked was early 

 tillage preparations for summer fallowing. Because of the delayed 

 hatch practically all stubble had been worked and the threat of 

 infestation from this favored M. mexicanus habitat was greatly 

 reduced. 



^ZD LIGHT ES3 THREATENING 



Hi SEVERE 



Figure 1. Grasshopper egg beds, 1943. 



The baiting control program was only partially successful. The 

 irregular development of 'hoppers and unfavorable weather made 

 baiting difficult. Heavy weed and crop growth partially minimized 

 the damage and partially concealed actual crop damage. Finally 

 labor shortage caused farmers to concentrate their efforts upon 

 harvest and other farming operations rather than upon control of 

 grasshoppers. 



Slightly over IV2 million dollars was the estimated crop loss 

 in 1943, while savings of approximately one million dollars re- 

 sult from control operations. Two thousand one hundred forty- 

 nine farmers and victory gardeners spread 1,041 tons of bait upon 

 208,220 acres of land. 



Melanoplus mexicanus was the dominant species with M. bi- 



