12 MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION Bui. 139 



recommended that an increase in funds be allowed to make it pos- 

 sible to employ a second man to work among the farmers in the 

 state and help keep up the office and laboratory routine which are 

 made necessary by the state work. It is no exaggeration to state 

 that the fund asked for this work would be returned to the farmers 

 at least a hundred fold. 



ESTIMATES 



Through the proper channels estimates have been submitted t< i 

 be included in the budget estimates amounting to a total of $7,550 

 for the year beginning March, 1921, and $8,590 for the year begin- 

 ning March, 1922. These increased figures are to cover the salary 

 of an additional man and his traveling expenses, and a small increase 

 in the working fund of the department, made necessary by the 

 increased demands. 



NOTES ON INSECT PESTS OF 1920 



SNAILS (MOLLUSCA) 

 Gray Garden Snail {A§riolimax agrestis Linn.). This slimy, 

 disgusting snail caused serious damage to turnips, tomatoes, and 

 lettuce in city gardens which were maintained in the damp condition 

 favorable to its development. 



MITES AND TICKS (ACARINA) 

 Pear-Leaf Blister Mite i Eriophyes pyri Pgst.). In the Hitter 

 Root Valley there was a noticeable increase in this pest over last 

 year. Unsprayed orchards suffered severe injury and orchards not 

 sprayed for two or three seasons had the fruit crop ruined. 



THRIPS (THYSANOPTERA) 

 Thrips. A severe outbreak of thrips, species undetermined. 

 occurred during the summer and caused heavy losses to alfalfa seed 

 producers in some sections of the state. In the Yellowstone Valley 

 these tiny pests were especiallv bad and were responsible for a 75 

 per cent decrease in the honey crop. 



GRASSHOPPERS, CRICKETS (ORTHOPTERA) 

 Stciroxys trilineata Thorn. Females of this species were found 



to be exceptionally abundant in the foothills in southern Gallatin 



Count}'. 



"Sand" or "Jerusalem Cricket" {Stenopelmatus spp.). The 



curious "sand cricket," sometimes known as the "Jerusalem cricket" 



