THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST l.'>7 



history. Accordingly certain experiments and studies were under- 

 taken under the Federal Adams fund, which have resulted in gather- 

 ing facts of the greatest importance. These will he prepared for 

 publication during the winter. 



THE ALFALFA WEEVIL 



General interest has continued in the effort to prevent the intm- 

 duction of the alfalfa weevil into Montana from Utah. Idaho, and 

 Wyoming where it now exists. Several reports of the weevil in 

 Montana have been looked up. but in no instance have we found 

 this insect, excepting in shipments coming from Utah. The work 

 of the lesser clover weevil (PJn/fononnis nigrirostria) closelv resem- 

 bles that of the alfalfa wce\il and the larvae of the two insects are 

 very much alike. A destructive colony of the lesser clover weevil 

 appeared in the western part of the State this }ear and there is 

 small wonder that farmers were alarmed. 



Every effort is being made to keep the alfalfa \vee\il I'Ut of 

 Montana. If it should be introduced and if it should be as injurious 

 here as it is in Utah, where it is continuing to be \ery destructive 

 year after year, it would lie a very serious tiling for Montana where 

 the alfalfa crop takes such a ])rominent ])Iace in the agriculture of 

 the State. 



Until further information is received, at least, it will be the 

 policy of this office to recommend maintaining a reasona1)le quar- 

 antine in order that the chances of introducing this insect may be 

 reduced to a minimum. 



THE WESTERN WHEAT APHIS 



The outbreak of army cutworms and the ne\vsi)a])cr comments 

 upon it in various parts of the State directed unusual attention to 

 other ]:)ests of wheat. Farmers in looking for cutworms found other 

 insects and wrote us aliout tliem. Some of these are (if considera1:)le 

 importance. A number of rc])orts of damage 1)_\- tlie western wheat 

 aphis, lii-iicJij/m/ IIS tiHici. were received. Ihis insect was first 

 brought to our attention sexeral years ago and as i)ractically nothing 

 was known regarding its life-liistory and the means of controlling 

 it we ha\e given sjiecial attention to it. Wheat i)lants aff'ected by 

 the wheat a])liis have a characteristic a])])earance \\hicli is easily 

 recognized wlien once seen. Voung infested plants show a thick- 



