MONTANA INSECT PESTS, 1953-1954 21 



MISCELLANEOUS 



THE GOATWEED BEETLE PROGRAM 



At the present time it is almost impossible to predict the over-all success 

 of the Chrysolina beetle in eliminating goatvveed from Montana ranges. In 

 general, the outlook is quite optimistic considering the adverse weather 

 conditions which existed during the past two years. Even with these de- 

 terring conditions some of the colonies have shown remarkable progress. 

 It appears that the most siiccessful of these colonies are located in areas 

 where conditions for the growth and reproduction of goatweed are best; 

 generally, the sunny slopes which have a deep, rich, water-retaining, but 

 well-drained soil. Colonies in shaded, damper situations have not, as a 

 rule, been well established. Likewise, the goatweed in these areas does 

 not show the vigor and vitality evident in the former areas. It is impossible 

 to tell how many colonies have been redistributed during the last biennium. 

 Many farmers and ranchers have collected colonies from established sites and 

 redistributed them on their own premises. To encourage and facilitate this 

 work, a color movie has been prepared which illustrates the proper techniques 

 to be used in gathering, transporting, and replanting goatweed beetle colonies. 

 In regard to the colonies which have failed to become established, a study 

 of the fall growth of the goatweed may prove to be of some significance. 

 Ordinarily the plants produce basal growth in the fall which serves as food 

 for the larvae of the beetles. Under some conditions it appears that this 

 growth either does not exist or, at best, is very limited. Some work of this 

 type will be done in the fall of 1954. Another insect which attacks goatweed 

 is a root borer, Agrilus hyperici. In areas where Chrysolina has had limited 

 success, this root borer has cleared out dense goatweed stands. An attempt 

 to establish these borers is planned where this condition exists in Montana. 



BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE STATE APIARIST OF MONTANA 



1953 AND 1954 



Durinc the iiast biennium the State Apiarist has carried out the various 

 duties as prescribed by state law. He has been greatly aided in this work 

 by the amendments to the Montana Apiculture Law which were passed by 

 the 1953 session of the legislature. The State Apiarist operates on the prem- 

 ise that regulation should be resorted to only when education fails, and 

 it is toward this end that work has been directed. In the furtherance of 

 this idea, manv contacts have been made with small beekeepers, the so- 

 called "hobby beekeepers." A short resume of beekeeping and what to 

 expect from it has been written and distributed to many 4-H Club members, 

 FFA members, and other hobb\ists interested in keeping bees. The State 

 Apiarist has aided several amateurs in becoming established in a part-time 

 beekeeping business and has, in addition, been instrumental in finding buy- 

 ers for at least four large commercial beekeeping operations. 



The State Apiarist is constantly being called upon to supply information 

 to out-of-state beekeepers who are interested in conditions relative to bee- 



