58 MONTANA EXPEEIMENT STATION 



Ants {Formicjna). Many calls were received for information 

 concerning the destruction of ants in lawns, walks, gardens, and 

 orchards. In the Bitter Root Valley a species nesting about the 

 base of fruit trees was especially troublesome and was suspected of 

 spreading blight. An assistant was sent to the Bitter Root to 

 experiment with various methods of controlling ants and found that 

 fumigation with carbon bisulphid was the most practical. 



The Leaf-Cutter Bee {Megachile acuta). Each year leaves 

 out of which circular and oblong pieces have been cut are sent to 

 the state entomologist by persons curious to know what has caused 

 the injury. This is the wci k of the leaf-cutter bee which uses the 

 pieces cut from the leaves in building its nest. In some instances 

 serious injury is done by this bee. 



SPOTTED FEVER TICK. 



On page 92 of the preceding report of the state entomologist 

 (for the year 1911), the status of the spotted fever tick investigations 

 is discussed. 



During 1912 we have continued the observations on ticks 

 kept in confinement at the field station near Florence and for this 

 purpose frequent trips have been made to the valley. We have 

 also kept in touch with the general situation. The Public Health 

 Service of Washington resumed their work at Victor, but the 

 Bureau of Entomology and the Bureau of Biological Survey did 

 not return to the field this season. 



On August 13th occurred Dr. Thomas Brown McClintic's 

 heroic death. He contracted Rocky Mountain spotted fever, was 

 removed to Washington and died soon after arriving at his home. 

 Following his death a number of magazine and newspaper articles 

 appeared in all parts of the United States and as an incidental result, 

 the occurrence and severity of the disease are much better known 

 the country over than ever before. Growing out of this the situation 

 is very materially changed in Montana. The press articles did not 

 use discriminating language and it does not appear as it should that 

 the situation growing out of the presence of the disease is serious 

 only in the Bitter Root valley. Considering the need for an increased 

 population in Montana, these articles cannot fail of retarding devel- 

 opment. 



