TWENTY-FOURTH REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 13 



destroyed by these insects, which numbered about 25 to every square 

 foot. In Cascade county, on a single farm, 200 acres of spring 

 wheat was severely damaged within a period of ten days to two 

 Aveeks. Sugar beets wei-e attacked in Pondera County with approxi- 

 mately 25 per cent loss. The beetles feed readily on potato vines, 

 alfalfa, mustard, and numerous weeds. 



Dry weather conditions with an aksence of precipitation in the 

 spring seem to afford ideal conditions for the increase of this pest 

 to outbreak proportions. Following the heavy spring rains in 1932, 

 no further trouble was experienced from this pest in areas severely 

 attacked during the previous year. As this beetle is normally present 

 in small numbers over a wide area of the state, having been collected 

 in Stillwater, Sweetgrass, Gallatin, Broadwater, Cascade, Teton, 

 Pondera, Toole, Blaine and Phillips counties, it is a potential source 

 of trouble should climatic conditions at any time favor its increase. 

 Effective control can be obtained by poisoned bran mash. 



THE MORMON CRICKET 

 ... Auabnis .simplex Hakl. 



Tn 1931 tlie Mormon cricket occurred in large swarms in the 

 foothills near Pryor in western Bighorn County. On account of 

 the tremendous number of the cricket.s it was feared tiiat they 

 would move down on cultivated crops and a eampaign, financed by 

 the Indian Service, was organized against them. Dusters and sup- 

 plies of arsenic and liydrated lime were purchased and used by 

 farmers, under the directi(m of Mr. Carl Sloan, who had betni 

 appointed by the Crow Agency. Although only a part of the 

 numerous bands of crickets was destroyed, no serious invasion of 

 crops took place. In 1932 the number of crickets was greatly reduced, 

 compared with the previous year, and no poisoning was necessary. 



This same insect was moi-c numerous than usual in north-central 

 Montana in 1932. lieports of its occurrence in small numbers came 

 from Chouteau County. 



THE SUGAR-BEET WEBWORM 



Iji.rosti tjf st icl icdl IS L. 

 Rather extensive damage l>y the sugar-heet webworm occurred 

 during the summer of 1931 ))Ut the widespread and sevei-e outbreak 

 of this insert which developed in 1932 sui-i)assed any previous infes- 

 tation within the records of this office. 



