86 MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION 



was noticeable for the unusual abundance of cutworms. Complaints 

 were received principally from town gardens where crops of var- 

 ious kinds were more or less injured. The cutworms of the North- 

 west have been very little studied and we are not usually able to 

 name the species as they are received at the college. Under the 

 Adams Fund we are making a serious study of the leading destruc- 

 tive species and hope gradually to bring together the much-needed 

 mformation. Complaints of the army cutworm in grain, the lead- 

 ing cutworm pest of Montana, were more numerous than in pre- 

 ceding years. 



Cutworms on Apple (Polia aedon Grote). Mr. Parker found 

 this cutworm in abundance on apple trees at Thompson Falls. Spe- 

 cimens were reared to the adult stage. A cutworm which is pro- 

 bably the same species was reported on apple trees at Victor. No 

 serious damage was reported although the occurrence of these 

 caterpillars on valuable trees naturally causes comment. 



Cutworms on Cottonwood (Ufeus plicatus Grote). Mr. Par- 

 ker also found another species very abundant on cottonwoods used 

 for shade and along the river course near Thompson Falls. This, 

 of course, is not a serious matter economically, but is of interest as 

 indicating the abundance of cutw^orms as a feature of 1911. 



The Green Fruit Worm (Xylina sp.). These little-known in- 

 sects have become surprisingly abundant during the past few years. 

 They have led to a number of incjuiries and at farmers' institutes 

 have been complained of by fruit growers. They are not ordinarily 

 seen by the growers because they so closely resemble the foliage. 

 They eat holes in the young apples when the latter have reached 

 the size of marbles. This is not a difficult insect to control by 

 spraying but just what its future will be in Montana is not clear. 

 They are able to withstand heavy doses of arsenic. 



The Blister-mite of Pear and Apple {?Jrio/th i/('!< pi/j'i Pgst.) 

 The l)lister-mitc, formerU- onl\ a pear pest in .Montana, has 

 lecently become even more serious on apples. It was one of the 

 leading pests of these fruits this season and wo feel sure that much 

 spraying will l)e done for it during tlic coming season. It is easily 

 controlled and there is no excuse for neglecting it. 



Mites on Strawberry i/fc/ r<i /i i/i-/ius hi nidcuhit us llarv.). The 

 season was notable for the abundance of mites. This species 



