28 MONTANA BULLETIN 170 



in 1923. Its appearance is so similar to that of the alfalfa weevil that 

 wherever it appears it causes some alarm. It is a smaller species, 

 however, and prefers clover to alfalfa. 



The Strawberry Crown Girdler (Otiorhynehus ovatus Linn.). 

 This world-wide species has for many years heen more or less preva- 

 lent in Montana, especially in the western portion. This insect again 

 turned up in 1924 and caused a considerable amount of alarm among 

 strawberry growers. 



The Rose Bud Curculio (Rhynchites bicolor Fab.). Growers of 

 roses wrote to us in a number of instances in 1923 and in 1924 com- 

 plaining that the rose buds were damaged by this red and black beetle. 

 This is a native species, always present on wild roses, and often migrat- 

 ing to cultivated varieties. 



The Plum Gouger (Coccotorus scutellaris LeC). This enemy of 

 plums in Montana east of the Rocky Mountain divide is a native species. 

 It is always present, but in some years is more abundant. A consider- 

 able number of letters were received inquiring for remedies. This 

 species is not to be confused with the plum curculio. from which it 

 differs in color and shape, as well as in the fact that the larvae of the 

 curculio never enter the pit, as they do in the case of the gouger. 



The Pea Weevil (Bruchus pisorum Linn.). This insect has be- 

 come of considerable interest in recent years, due to increased interest 

 in pea culture for seed and canning purposes. It is fortunate that it 

 is a less serious pest in northern latitudes. 



The Common Bean Weevil (Bruchus obtectus Say.). We received 

 a few complaints of the bean weevil in 1924. In view of the prominence 

 of the bean-growing industry in recent years, it should receive the 

 attention of growers. 



The Moths and Butterflies (Lepidopteba) 

 The Achemon Sphinx (Pholus acliemon Dru.). The caterpillar 

 of this large Sphinx moth was sent in repeatedly from the Yellowstone 

 Valley with the report that it was feeding on the Virginia creeper, 

 indicating that the species was abundant during 1924. 



The Poplar Sphinx (Pachysphinx modesta Harris). The large, 

 fleshy caterpillars of this species were abundant on cottonwoods east 

 of the mountain divide during the season of 1924. 



The Cecropia Moth (Samia cecropia Linn.). This Large showy moth 

 always attracts attention. It was senl in several times during 1923 



