MONTANA INSECT PESTS, 1951-1952 29 



the principal pollinators. Investigational work along these lines 

 has been initiated in Montana. However, recommendations cannot 

 be made until more is known about pollinating activities under 

 our conditions. 



Some areas have experienced considerable difficulties with 

 damage to bees caused by the application of toxicants for pesti- 

 ferous insect control. Such has not been the case in Montana prin- 

 cipally because of cooperation between spray operators and bee- 

 keepers on proper measures to be taken to prevent bee losses. 



During the biennium honey crops have tended to be erratic. 

 At least one of the reasons for this has been the change in agri- 

 cultural practices which has eliminated or reduced plants either 

 permanently or temporarily during critical periods. The honey 

 crops during both years of the biennium appear to be slightly 

 below average. The reported state average for the 1951 honey 

 crop was 72 pounds per colony. The figures are not as yet com- 

 piled for 1952, but the crop was probably slightly less than in 

 1951. During both years of the biennium some high and some 

 low individual honey yields were experienced. 



Many areas of the state are overcrowded by bees. This, along 

 with other circumstances, has brought about a gradual reduction 

 of the number of registered colonies of bees in Montana. The bee 

 population has been reduced from about 65,000 colonies registered 

 in 1948 to 58,719 colonies registered in 1952. The recent increased 

 price support of honey may tend to level off or even increase the 

 number of commercial colonies during the next biennium. 



