TWENTY-EIGHTH REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 7 



Grasshopper Control In 1940 



Again in 1940 the dominant species in the State was the lesser 

 migratory locust. It is estimated that an intensive educational 

 campaign, carried on during the preceding winter mainly by coun- 

 ty agents, was successful in reaching approximately 7,500 people 

 personally, and the farm operators in the badly infested area in 

 north-central Montana were ready when the hatch began. Little 

 'hoppers appeared earlier again in 1940 than was anticipated. They 

 were first seen about May 11th, and by the 20th some injury was 

 evident. Nymphs appeared in light soil above Gildford in Hill 

 County before any were noted anywhere else along the upper tier of 

 counties. The rush on the mixing stations was almost explosive, a 

 comparatively large amount of bait materials on hand in the crit- 

 ically infested counties was soon exhausted, and for a short period 

 sawdust was not received in sufficient quantities to supply the great 

 demand. As soon as shipments were adjusted no further trouble 

 was experienced with shortages in bait materials. 



Some disease in M. bivittatus and M. packardi was noticed, and 

 sarcophagid flies were moderately abundant in local areas. 



The 1940 campaign was successful in saving an estimated $7,012,- 

 763, and losses were estimated to amount to $2,155,631. Other than 

 for a temporary shortage of sawdust mentioned previously, the 

 campaign was comparatively smooth-running, cooperation among 

 all agencies involved was excellent, and the interest of the farmers 

 high in the badly infested area. 



Bait usage by counties for the 1940 season is given in table 1. 



Preparation and the Success of Grasshopper Campaigns 



It has been amply demonstrated during the past three years 

 that the success of a grasshopper control campaign is directly pro- 

 portional to the preparation for it, both in the field of education and 



TABLE 2.— LOCAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND PARTIC IPA TION, 1939-1940 



1939 1940 



Number of mixing stations 57 37 



Average weight (wet) per sack 80 80 



Counties actively engaged 21 10 



Farmers using bait 9,588 5,250 



Average farmers per county 457 525 



Wet bait used 38,479 32,980 



Mechanical bait spreaders 2,891 



Cropland baited (acres) 1,272,289 2,119,451 



Range or pasture baited (acres) 1,021,623 86,558 



Estimated losses - $2,867,923 $2,155,631 



Estimated savings $6,835,758 $7,012,763 



in maintaining quantities of materials at strategic places previous 

 to the actual field work. In 1938, when there was no warning that 

 the counties in eastern Montana would be invaded, and practically 

 no preparation was made for the influx from the southeast, crop 

 losses for the State were estimated to be $6,831,090, and the savings 



