, ,^f.^. na Sta,e Library 



3JNUII 



3 0864 1004 0524 3 



MONTANA INSECT PESTS, 1943 AND 1944 

 Thirtieth Report of the State Entomologist 



H. B. Mills, J. A. Callenbach, J. F. Reinhardt 1 



INTRODUCTION 



The control of insects harmful to human interests in Montana 

 has been recognized as essential almost from the inception of the 

 development of agriculture in the State. At the turn of the century 

 this interest in insect control was implemented by establishment 

 of the position of entomologist in the Montana Agricultural Exper- 

 iment Station, and since that time his duties and responsibilities 

 have been increasing. This increase is the natural result of increas- 

 ed emphasis on agriculture through the years, and to the introduc- 

 tion of some injurious species or the transfer of interest on the 

 part of some native insects from their natural food to cultivated 

 crops. 



The control of some insects has been developed and organized 

 within the past decade in an excellent manner through cooperation 

 between this office and other agencies, primarily the Division of 

 Grasshopper Control of the Bureau of Entomology and Plant 

 Quarantine. Through this cooperation the State has received much 

 assistance in important control problems, and some control meth- 

 ods have had their inception and trial in this area. 



All of this has increased the work done in insect research and 

 control and the emphasis on lines of attack. The service of the De- 

 partment to the people of the State has increased but is far from 

 reaching a satisfactory state, even after 44 years, largely due to 

 the needs for trained personnel. 



Much is yet to be found out concerning the habits of injurious 

 and beneficial insects in the State, and basic, well-grounded con- 

 trol measures often await the uncovering of new facts concerning 

 the insect pests involved. This is somewhat complicated, also, by 

 the inaccuracies which are involved in trying to apply facts dis- 

 covered concerning one species to other species, or even to the same 

 species at different times or in different areas. 



Good control measures are available for some insects, and they 

 work satisfactorily much of the time. For others the control mea- 



J State Entomologist, Assistant State Entomologist, and State Apriarist, respectively. 



