TWENTY-EIGHT REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 23 



Europe and was reported in New England about 85 years ago, but 

 the only biological notes I find seem based upon the old note by 

 Perris 1852 describing the predatory larva. There is, however, 

 a little-known report that the adults feed upon the soft parts of 

 blossoms of wheat and much reduce the number of kernels formed 

 in a head of wheat, the injury being noticeable only by feeling the 

 ripened heads between the fingers to detect absence of kernels. 



"The role of this species in the United States should be de- 

 termined by new observations on its habits, both as the phytoph- 

 agous adults and as the predatory larvae." 



Alfalfa Weevil. — There are several old records of the alfalfa 

 weevil (Phytonomus posticus (Gyll.)) in the State. They were col- 

 lected from hay shipped into Montana from 1912 to 1914 at Ballan- 

 tine, Billings, Butte, and Great Falls. In 1938 and 1939 scouts for 

 the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine collected a few 

 larvae in the vicinity of Wyola. This is the only place in the 

 State where these insects apparently have been established. 



Sugar Beet Webworm. — Only light to moderate infestations of 

 the sugar beet webworm (Loxostege sticticalis L.) were reported 

 during 1939 and 1940. A heavy moth flight took place over most 

 of the State during early June 1939, but due to the high per cent 

 of sterility among the females few eggs were laid. Moderate in- 

 festations necessitating spraying were reported from the vicinity 

 of Fromberg and also from the lower Flathead district near Ro- 

 nan. Relatively few fields were attacked and damage was slight. 

 In 1940 the moth flight was considerably smaller than during the 

 previous year. The only report of numbers sufficient to require 

 spraying was from the vicinity of Valier. A few fields in the Bill- 

 ings district were reported infested, but not in sufficient numbers 

 to warrant spraying. 



Alfalfa Semi-Looper. — This looping, aerial cutworm (Auto- 

 grapha calif ornica (Speyer)) was last abundant throughout the 

 State in 1914. The only other record of the species until this year 

 was from Twin Bridges in 1922. In 1940 larvae were reported from 

 alfalfa fields near Helena, Logan, and Ronan, and a large number 

 of adults were flying at Bozeman during the first part of June. The 

 larvae are cutworm-like, but move with a looping motion similar to 

 measuring worms. They are very general feeders, but the most of 

 their damage has been reported from alfalfa. As a usual thing 

 they are so thoroughly held in check by parasites and disease that 

 they are not injurious to crops. 



Army Worm. — The true army worm (Cirphis unipuncta 

 (Haw.) ) appeared in 1940 in a small area south of Scobey. This 

 insect may be a very serious enemy of many crops, especially grass- 

 es, but in Montana it becomes sufficiently abundant to do damage 

 only on rare occasions. It may be held in check by the use of grass- 

 hopper bait or barriers placed before migrating bands. 



