TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 201 



Bumble Flower Beetle {Euplwria inda Linn.). In passing 

 through a field of dent corn in tlie Yellowstone Valley it was 

 noticed that many of the ears were open at the tip and that the 

 kernels had been eaten into. One of the first ears examined con- 

 tained four beetles of this species. They had worked their way 

 beneath the husk at tlie tip and were busily eating the soft kernels. 



SPOTTED FEVER TICK 



This office has gi\-en much attention to the spotted lever tick 

 during the past six years. A thorough investigation of its life 

 history and habits has been under way, and much important infor- 

 mation bearing on methods and means of destroying the tick has 

 been secured. 



During the biennial period now closing the work has been 

 enlarged and is now being pushed with greater energy than before. 

 The last legislature passed a bill creating the Montana State Board 

 of Entomology. By the provisions of this law the secretary of the 

 State Board of Health, the State veterinary surgeon and the State 

 entomologist are made to constitute this board and directed to 

 investigate and control insects which transmit human and animal 

 diseases. An appropriation of $5,000 was made, and authority given 

 to prescribe rules and regulations for the control of such insects. 



Through the efforts of Senator Myers an appropriation was 

 secured for the Bureau of Entomology of the U. S. Department of 

 Agriculture, for the purpose of undertaking the eradication of this 

 tick, and upon the invitation of the secretary of the State Board 

 of Health the U. S. Public Health Service also came into the work 

 with a fund. These two Federal services have been working on 

 the spotted fever tick in the Bitter Root Valley in cooperation with 

 the Montana State Board of Entomology. 



The complete change in the plans and organization of this 

 work has in some measure relieved the State entomologist from 

 participation in the actual work on the tick but at the same time 

 has placed on him a new responsibility in the office of secretary 

 of the Board of Entomology, which the law prescribes that the 

 State entomologist shall fill. 



A detailed report of the activities of this board is made in a 

 separate publication, which will appear as the First Biennial Report 

 of the Montana State Board of Entomology. 



