Montana State Library 



3 0864 1004 1475 7 



MONTANA INSECT PESTS 

 1949 and 1950 



THIRTY-THIRD REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 



J. H. Pepper J. P. Corkins Ralph Schmiedeskamp 



C. R. Hunt N. L. Anderson J. C. Wright' 



INTRODUCTION 



It is apparent that the entomological outlook for Montana 

 presents an ever continuing series of new problems. This is to be 

 expected with the general increase and intensification of agricul- 

 ture which is occurring along with the introduction and spread of 

 new insect pests. Fortunately, new insecticides, new methods of 

 application, and in many cases, fundamental research, are keeping 

 pace with these new problems. However, it is obvious that the 

 efforts to stay ahead of these insect pests cannot be relaxed, for 

 if they are, the insects will in all probability deal serious blows 

 to our agricultural economy. 



Grasshoppers, Montana agriculture's leading insect enemy, 

 have been present in increasing numbers during the last biennium. 

 It is quite possible that the outbreak peak has not as yet been 

 reached, and that therefore more severe infestations may be ex- 

 pected during the next biennium. In general, farmer response and 

 control methods have improved to the point that extensive crop 

 and range protection have been realized. It has been demonstrated 

 that recently developed control measures have provided an econom- 

 ical and practical means of killing grasshoppers. This makes it 

 possible to start working on the heart of the problem, that of pre- 

 venting outbreaks. Once the biological fundamentals which are 

 responsible for grasshopper outbreaks are mastered, it is reason- 

 able to assume that it will be possible to apply our new methods 

 of killing grasshoppers in a manner so as to prevent widespread 

 devastating infestations. 



^State Entomologist; Assistant State Entomologist; Assistant State Apiarst; Assist- 

 ant Entomologist, Montana Agricultural Experiment Station; Assistant to the State 

 Entomologist; Instructor, Department of Botany and Bacteriology, Montana State 

 College; respectively. 



