ELEVENTH AXNUAL KEPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 131 



Living weevils were found in four carloads of potatoes, the four 

 cars containing respectively 8, 10, 12, and 20 insects. 



Any one of these four lots might easily under the right sur- 

 roundings start a colony of this dreaded pest in Montana and we 

 think that the experience shows that our quarantine is needed. 



Early in September, following a conference with Mr. Dean in 

 Helena, the State entomologist again went to Utah to study the 

 field and packing conditions and get any information possible bearing 

 on the probability of shipments to Montana becoming infested witn 

 w eevils. 



A number of important points were developed by observations 

 and by conference with the State and Federal men. The weevils go 

 into hibernation about the first of August and in doing so disappear 

 into the soil. I was informed that the season's work had shown 

 that the weevils are much less inclined to leave the fields and get into 

 miscellaneous articles which might be shipped out of the State than 

 had been previously believed. Having confidence in the Utah hor- 

 ticultural officials, it seemed feasible to depend upon them for an 

 effective inspection system which would so govern the packing con- 

 ditions in Utah as to reduce to a minimum the chances of carrying 

 weevils in shipments out of that State. 



On returning to Montana and conferring with Mr. Dean, it was 

 decided to recommend a modification of the quarantine, and a few 

 days later a new proclamation was issued by the Governor which 

 permitted the shipping of fruits and vegetables after August 1, pro- 

 vided the horticultural inspector of Utah would certify that each 

 shipment had been repacked under his supervision ; that all wagons 

 and conveyances used in hauling to the packing houses had been 

 kept free of alfalfa hay, straw, and other litter; and that packing 

 houses at all times be kept free from alfalfa hay and other means 

 of contamination. This modified quarantine is now in force. 



During the year the State entomologist has prepared and the 

 Experiment Station has published an illustrated, 15-page circular 

 dealing wath the life history of the alfalfa weevil and containing a 

 copy of the law and the quarantine proclamation. This is intended 

 for general distribution in Montana and also in the states on which 

 a quarantine has been placed. 



