30 MONTANA BULLETIN 150 



BEES, WASPS (HYMENOPTERA) 



Ants (Formicidae). Many requests were received for information 

 on the control of ants in wheat fields. The usual number of complaints 

 regarding house ants were also received. 



Pine Sawfly. A sawfly occurring in enormous numbers tlirough 

 the pine belt in southeastern Montana did a great amount of damage 

 by completely stripping the needles from the trees attacked. The 

 period of greatest feeding was during the month of July and the first 

 part of August. 



RECOMMENDATIONS 

 There can l3e no doubt that the actual saving of crops from grass- 

 hoppers in Montana in 1922 was well over two and a half millions of 

 dollars. This work centers in the State Entomologist's office which co- 

 operates with the county agents in counties where there are such agents 

 and with county officers where there are no agents. Grasshoppers are 

 the main insect pest at the present time but our activities are by no 

 means confined to fighting these insects. There are many pests of some- 

 what lesser importance. Each season differs in its demands and we 

 are compelled to maintain an office and laboratory system prepared to 

 meet any situation that may arise. The basis of the work is technical 

 information which we ourselves must gather. The work is actively 

 connected at all times with that of the Experiment Station which main- 

 tains a separate staff. 



The work of the State Entomologist's office is maintained on an 

 appropriation of $3,900 — a sum ridiculously small when compared with 

 what is accomplished with it. One man only, the Assistant State En 

 tomologist, Mr. A. L. Strand, is employed under this fund. Tlie State 

 Entomologist receives no salary as such. Mr. Strand's salary and all 

 of his expenses, as well as anj^ student assistance, supplies and sun- 

 dries, must be paid for from this $3,900. In many instances during 

 recent years it has been necessary to refuse his services to differoiit 

 counties and communities when his presence would have undoubtedly 

 resulted both in much saving of crops and in a more satisfactory return 

 in taxes to the county and State treasuries. It can be easily demon- 

 strated from our records that information originating in this office has 

 repeatedly resulted in the saving to the State in a single day many 

 times over the entire annual appropriation for this work. In recent 

 years we have been able to attend only to the most insistent emergency 



