Montana State Library 



3 0864 1004 1425 2 



MONTANA INSECT PESTS 

 1953 and 1954 



Thirty-fifth Report of the State Entomologist 



J. H. Pepper 



G. R. Roemhild 



L. N. Graham" 



INTRODUCTION 



The general trend in insect numbers observed in 1951 and 1952 has 

 been reversed during the last biennium. At the present time it appears 

 that most of our insect pests are increasing. Although no new insect 

 enemies have been introduced into the state, it would appear that those 

 already here are increasing both in number and in their range of distribu- 

 tion. These increased insect problems are probably due to weather con- 

 ditions and to the intensification, diversification, and general expansion of 

 agricultural programs within the state. In spite of the increased occurrence 

 of insect pests, economic losses have been minimized by improved and more 

 efficient methods of combatting them. 



Range and cropland grasshoppers, which were almost at a historical 

 low in 1951 and 1952, are again increasing in numbers to the point where 

 they are causing some damage in man\" regions over the state. Their rav- 

 ages are felt most in those areas of range land where dn*' weather and 

 excessive grazing by livestock have alread\- depleted the range. The range 

 grasshopper investigations currently being carried on by this office in co- 

 operation with the Agricultural Experiment Station of Montana State College 

 show that the misuse of range is one of the contributing factors to range 

 grasshopper population increases. 



iState Entomologist; Assistant State Entomologist; Assistant State Apiarist. 



