MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION. 133 



As affecting the methods of controlling the ravages of this pest 

 a knowledge of the food plants it is of great importance. More will 

 be said on the subject under the head of remedies. 



Only scattered observations on the feeding habits have been made 

 as recorded above, but various writers have suggested that it is 

 probable that the species feeds on a large variety of plants. Our 

 observations bear out this belief. The food plants above recorded 

 are widely scattered through the vegetable kingdom and it would 

 not be surprising to find in a complete list, if §uch a list could be 

 obtained, a very large number of widely differing plants. 



Further observations on the feeding habits of this beetle in dif- 

 ferent parts of the United States are very desirable and might, 

 prove to be of great value. 



INJURIOUSNESS. 



In only two localities in this state has this pest become noticeably 

 destructive, so far as we are informed. These two places are in 

 Missoula Co., one being on the farm of Mr. Chas. Williams in the 

 Rattlesnake \'alley north of Missoula, and the other at the place of 

 -Mr. England west of the city. At ^Mr. England's place the beetles 

 were very injurious about five years ago and drove him out of the 

 business. He gave up attempting to grow strawberries for a period 

 of four years, and then ^Mrs. England in the spring of 1904 set out 

 a new bed not far from the old patch. So far as the experience of 

 1904 shows, no beetles are on the place. An explanation of this 

 present freedom from the pest offers itself and is discussed under 

 the head of remedies. 



At the Williams place the beetles have prevented the profitable 

 growing of strawberries for a1)out eight or ten years. Great credit 

 IS due to these people for the persistence with which they have tried 

 to overcome the pest. The}' have studied its habits both out of doors 

 and in cages in the house and are remarkably familiar with its 

 haunts and ways. Tliey have moved their strawberry beds from 

 cue place to another all over tlieir large and beautiful ranch and have 

 invariably confronted the pest in each new spot. They have tried 

 every means of control within their reach and have showed much in-, 

 genuity in their campaign liut always at the time when the berries: 

 should be growing and coming to maturity, the vines gradually 



