loS MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION 



ening- and l)roadening- of tlie leaf blades. A very few aphids on a 

 plant may have a surprisingly injurious effect. Some plants show 

 in the later stages of injury a characteristic twisting of the stem 

 and a deformed head. The injury often appears only in spots in 

 the held, but sometimes entire fields are affected and much damase 

 results. 



The only literature on the life-history and control has been 

 issued by this office. \\'e have been able to recommend an effective 

 method of control and we feel that when grain growers become 

 familiar with the insect and the wav to control it the damase will 

 be much reduced. 



One important scientific paper on this subject has been pub- 

 lished during the year* and it is intended to print and distribute a 

 l>ulletin during the coming vear. 



A NEW CUTWORM 



A little known cutworm (Ei(.xoa neai qnadTidentata) was 

 brought to our attention by Senator T. O. Larson of Choteau who 

 reported damage to wheat near Brady in Teton County. A con- 

 siderable number of acres of grain had been severely damaged and 

 some alarm was felt in the neighborhood. This insect was studied 

 in the insectary where valuable information was received and it 

 will be given further attention as Ave have opportunity. It is not 

 prol)able that it will be found to be nearly so important a pest as 

 the army cutworm. 



THE WHEAT STEM MAGGOT 



Farmers in western Montana reported a peculiar injury to grain 

 in ]\lay. Injured plants when examined were f(^und to contain small, 

 white maggots in the axis. These turned out to l)e the voung of 

 the wheat stem maggot. Ccrodmifha fciiioi-dHs. These maggots 

 bore down through the stem, completely destroying tlie plant, and 

 go out through the crown into the earth Avhere they pupate. The 

 eggs are laid on the leaves l)v the parent fiies whicli are \-erv small 

 and not easil}- found. 



The li\ing insects were studied in the insectary and the stages 

 of (le\elopment were worked out. It is hoped that further study 

 may devise a method of controlling this little known ]:)est. 



* Parker, J. R. The western -uheat aphis. In Journal of Eoouomie 

 Entomology, Vol. 9, No. ], 1916. 



