Twelfth Annual Report of the State 

 Entomologrist of Montana 



INSECT PESTS OF 1914 



During the season of 1914, particularly the early summer 

 months, insect pests were unusually abundant. The outstanding- 

 feature of the year was an unprecedented outbreak of the alfalfa 

 looper (Autographa gaimna californica Speyer) in nearly every 

 section of the State. Other insects unusually abundant were flea 

 beetles, cutworms, and the cosmopolitan butterfly. 



Following our custom of the last few years a record is here 

 made of the insects of economic importance which were particularly 

 brought to our attention during the year. 



ACARINA 



Leaf Blister Mite {Eriophyes pyri Pgst.). In the Bitter Root 

 Valley horticultural inspectors report the leaf blister mite as one 

 of the worst fruit pests of the year. 



Plum Gall Mite {Eriophyes padi Nal.). As usual plum leaves 

 distorted by the attacks of these tiny mites were sent in several 

 times from eastern Montana. Spraying experiments for controlling 

 plum diseases, carried on by the station botanists, incidentally dem- 

 onstrated that the plum gall mite can be controlled by a thorough 

 dormant spraying with lime-sulphur. 



ORTHOPTEEA 



Grasshoppers {Aciididae) . Reports of grasshopper injury were 

 fewer than for several years. Several persons from Cascade County 

 reported losses due to grasshoppers, especially in alfalfa grown 

 for seed. 



THYSANOPTEEA 

 Currant Thrips {Liothrips montanus Hood). For several years 

 the work of this insect has been noticed in the currant patch at 

 the college. The species proved to be new and recently has been 

 described by Mr. Hood. 



HEMIPTERA 

 A Predacious Nabid Bug {Reduviolus ferus Linn.). This ben- 



