8 MUX TAX A EXPEKl.MK.XT .STATIOX BULLETIX 209 



operations probably oauglit most of the eggs in sections wliere the 

 recommended practice was followed of leaving fallow undisturbed 

 nntil after September 15. 



Army Cutworm — Chorizagrotis atiriliaris Grt. 



Three ontbreak areas of army cutworm were recorded during 

 1932. That in southeastern Montana centered in Big Horn and 

 southern Yellowstone counties where several hundred acres of grain 

 and alfalfa were severely damaged. In Lake, Missoula, and Ravalii 

 counties in western ^Montana, alfalfa, grain, and young beets were 

 damaged, and along the Judith Mountains in Fergus County the 

 army cutworm was destructive to grain. The amount of crop totally 

 destroyed was considerably less than in 1931. However, the two 

 years, 1931 and 1932. liave seen the army cutworm nmch more 

 abundant than it was during the preceding ten years. 



Poisoned bran bait was applied on a small scale for this cut- 

 worm in most infested localities. In Lake County where about a 

 iOn was used particularly good results were reported. ]\Ioisture 

 conditions during April were favorable so that crops, thougli dam- 

 aged by the cutworms, were able to make good growth, and under 

 those circumstances growers were much less inclined to poison than 

 when the growing crops disappear completely. 



This pest does not increase during di-y weather in the same 

 Avay as tlie pale western cutworm, aiid it is not possible at ])resent 

 to forecast trouble with such certainty. The moth was found flying 

 in only small or moderate numbers during September in central 

 and south-central Montana and it seems likely that the si)eeies Avill 

 show a decline during the coming season. 



Red-backed Cutworm — Euxon o('hro</astcr Gn. 

 This cutworm occurred in rmly limited numbers during 1932. 

 In the Bitter Root Valley, where it is often abundant in beet fields, 

 it was exceedingly scarce, only one field showing evident damage. 

 In Richland County a limited number of fields of beets and grain 

 were known to be infested. It is iniprobalile that the red-backi'U 

 cutvrorm will occur in large numbers in 1933. 



GRASSHOPPERS 



During the past two years Montana's grasshopper problem has 

 not been as acute as that wliieh has confronted our neighboring 

 states and j^rovinces. The extraordinary outbreaks in the Dakotas, 



