12 MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 384 



Clover seed midge (Dasyneura legumincola (Lint.) ) . — The first 

 and only record of this insect in the State until the present was of 

 an outbreak at Arlee in 1917. In both 1939 and 1940 its attack on red 

 clover in the vicinity of Ronan, Lake County, greatly reduced the 

 seed yield of this important crop. Its attack is characterized by the 

 failure of the florets to open and by the later absence of seed. Tiny 

 pink or orange larvae may be found in the injured clover heads. 

 The winter is spent in the larval stage in the soil. In the early 

 spring these larvae pupate and in May or June emerge as tiny 

 midges which are slate gray with reddish abdomens. The eggs are 

 laid about the calyx and the hatching larvae enter the flowers. 

 When they are full grown they fall to the ground, usually during 

 a period of rain, and complete the cycle. There are usually two 

 generations. To control these insects the clover should be cut a 

 little before the uninjured heads have reached full bloom, and all 

 volunteer clover should be eliminated. This destroys the larvae 

 which would otherwise develop into the second generation of adults, 

 and usually allows ample time for the second growth to produce 

 seed. 



The clover root borer (Hylastinus obscurns (Marsh) ) . — This is 

 also present in the Flathead area. The main injury caused by this 

 beetle results from the tunneling of the white, legless larvae in the 

 roots (figure 3) . The plants thus attacked wilt, turn brown, and fin- 

 ally die. Although this insect may attack several cultivated leg- 

 umes, including alfalfa and sweet clover, it prefers red and mam- 

 moth clover. This insect does not usually injure stands which are 

 one or two years old, doing the most of its damage to older fields. 

 When any quantity of injury is noticed in the fields, (intense in- 

 jury is not common) , the only control recommended is to plow 

 under the crop. 



The clover aphid (Anuraphis bakeri Cowen). — This aphid has 

 been abundant in the same area as the two insects discussed above, 

 during 1939 and 1940. Although the plants may not be greatly in- 

 jured by the feeding of this insect, the seed crop losses may be great 

 because of its secretion of honeydew which mats the heads and 

 cakes the seeds in storage. Close pasturing early in the season or 

 cutting the first crop close to the ground and promptly removing the 

 hay may allow a seed crop to be produced comparatively free from 

 the damage which this insect causes. 



Grain Insects 



During the last biennium the requests for information concern- 

 ing the control of insects infesting stored grains have increased con- 

 siderably over previous years. Although the action of many of 

 those sent in or collected by members of the staff may not actually 

 injure the grain in which they were found, their presence may result 



