LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 



Bozeman, Montana. 

 December 15, 1938. 

 To His Excellency, 

 Governor Roy E. Ayres, 

 Helena, Montana. 

 My Dear Sir: 



I present herewith the 27th Report of the State Entomologist of Montana. 



There have been some changes in the status of the insect outbreaks re- 

 ported to you for 1935 and 1936. Grasshopper injury was intense in parts of 

 the State in 1937, the areas affected most severely being affected also by 

 drought. For 1938 a great decrease in infestation was forecast, and this de- 

 crease was clearly evident up until July 1, 1938. The injury caused by these 

 pests would have been the smallest on record for Montana in many years 

 had not an invasion from the Dakotas occurred in July. This invasion cost 

 Montana over six millions of dollars but, fortunately, such mass migrations 

 involving large areas seldom occur. Indications are that "native" Montana 

 'hoppers will be considerably more abundant in 1939 than they were in 1938. 



The worst infestation of Mormon crickets ever experienced by this or 

 any other State occurred in 1937 and was successfully combatted through 

 an allocation of W. P. A. funds. Crops valued at over five million dollars 

 were saved and about five hundred thousand dollars worth of crops were 

 lost. In 1938 there was a change in procedure in fighting these pests, involv- 

 ing a reduction in hand labor and an increase in the use of power dusters 

 and barriers. Again the savings-loss ratio was about 10:1. Control work for 

 these pests is working toward a sounder basis. 



The Federal side of insect control is now invested in a division of the 

 Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine which is in charge of control 

 procedure alone. Definite contributions are required of the State in order 

 to receive this Federal assistance. The direction of these cooperative projects 

 in the State is the duty of the State Entomologist. Responsibility for the 

 financing of these campaigns falls, however, on several agencies and groups. 

 I should like to call your attention especially to the discussion of this dis- 

 tribution of responsibility, and suggestions for its equalization among those 

 involved, as given in this report. 



Respectfully submitted, 



Harlow B. Mills, 

 State Entomologist. 



