THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 191 



THE FUTURE OF THE CODLING MOTH IN MONTANA. 



The writer believes that the future of this insect in Montana 

 will be of one gradual extention of the area infested and increase of 

 damage done. As orchards become older the insects will find more 

 favorable condition for their existence and while now only a small 

 part of the opportunities afforded, result in tlie production of colon- 

 ies of the moth, in the future new colonies will appear with greater 

 frequency. 



Figures are not available by which we can state the exact num- 

 ber of trees now standing in Montana but tAvo millions is certainly 

 a conservative estimate. When in full bearing these trees will 

 produce, in an average crop, year after year, say three boxes per 

 tree. At one dollar per box the annual apple crop will then be 

 worth $6,000,000. It seems probable that the time is not far dis- 

 tant when the codling moth if left to itself will take one fourth of 

 Montana's apple crop. Thus if the situation has not been overstat- 

 ed, should Montana neglect or fail to control the codling moth she 

 would pay a penalty of $1,500,000 annually. Considering available 

 figures from other states this sum is certainly a conservative estimate 

 of ihe damage the codling moth is capable of doing in Montana. 

 It should be borne in mind also that this sum would come not only 

 out of the gross receipts but particularly from the fruit growers' 

 profits. 



There can be little doubt that eventually the codling moth will 

 be in practically every orchard in Montana but that time may be 

 delayed and in the meantime the fruit growers be so educated that 

 Montana will never suffer the heavy losses experienced by some 

 other sections nor lose her reputation for fruit free from codling 

 moth. 



WAYS IN WHICH THE PROGRESS OF THE MOTH MAY BE DELAYED. 



A great eventual financial saving may be made by retarding 

 the dissemination of this insect. In so retarding the moth both 

 individual and concerted effort will be required. We believe that 

 much has already been done in this direction by the Experiment 

 Station and the Board of Horticulture through the publicity that has 

 been given the subject and the actual preventive and remedial 

 measures employed. 



