96 MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION 



mitted the infection. It is common knowledge in the parts of the 

 Bitter Root valley where the disease occurs that many people arc 

 bitten with the tick who do not take this disease, showing again that 

 only a part of the ticks are capable of giving it. Unfortunately, this 

 fact leads some residents of the valley to give little credence to the 

 tick theory. 



Various other diseases of man and the domestic animals are 

 known to be transmitted by ticks, mosquitoes and other insects. 

 Notable among these are the yellow fever and malaria, both carried 

 by mosquitoes, and the Texas fever of cattle carried by the cattle 

 tick. The relation of these diseases to the insects and tick are well 

 known and extensive remedial measures are based on the knowledge. 

 There has been a marked increase in the study of mosquitoes and 

 ticks since their importance in connection with disease has been 

 recognized, and the results have been of great value in the saving of 

 life and property. 



Montana's spotted fever disease has been placed in the same 

 category with these other insect-transmitted diseases, but we are 

 woefully lacking in knowledge of the habits of the tick. This 

 rather obscure animal has suddenly come into great prominence and 

 our lack of knowledge regarding its habits in nature is conspicuous. 

 Moreover, the life history of this tick must be made known before we 

 can hope to make any progress in tlie eradication of the disease. 

 The demand for this work therefore is most urgent. ' 



So far as we have been able with the funds available we have 

 studied ticks during the last few months. The work has been ear- 

 ned on both in the laboratory and in the field. For the most part 

 the notes so far obtained in the laboratory do little more than cor- 

 robate the results published by Dr. Ricketts which constitute the 

 most complete information regarding this tick tliat we possess. 

 Some new points are indicated. 



The West Gallatin trip, while developing little that is new. 

 shows us how to proceed in the future. Without the experience 

 of this year much less could be accomplished next season. 



NOTES FROM THE INSECTARY. 



A number of more or less engorged ticks were secured from 

 horses on Sixteen Mile Creek and were placed on moist earth in 



