202 MONTANA EXPEEIMENT STATION 



THE ALFALFA WEEVIL 



The alfalfa weevil, to which attention has been called in pre- 

 \ious reports, continues to spread in neighboring states to the 

 south and is still causing serious and extensive damage to the 

 <<lfalfa crop. So far as we know this pest is not yet present in 

 Montana. 



The State entomologist and the State horticulturist, M. L. 

 Dean, have cooperated in making every effort to prevent the intro- 

 duction of this insect across our boundary. A careful field study 

 was made in Utah in order to determine what points should be 

 guarded and what provision should be made to reduce to a min- 

 imum the chances for the insect to be brought into Montana in 

 connection with shipments of produce. 



Our investigations led to the establishment of a quarantine as 

 stated in the Eleventh Report, and this quarantine is still in force. 

 That it was necessary was clearly shown by the fact that shortly 

 before it went into effect an assistant found living weevils rather 

 plentiful in four carloads of potatoes arriving in Butte from Utah. 

 We believe it is certain that the quarantine has already prevented 

 large numbers of the insects from coming into the State. 



In many instances reports have reached this office that the 

 alfalfa weevil had been found in the State. These have all been 

 looked up and in every instance it has been found that some other 

 insect was the cause of the scare. Until this weevil has been present 

 in a field for several years it does not produce any very noticeable 

 effect, and its first appearance is not likely to be detected by 

 any one but an entomologist. 



The work on the alfalfa weevil has cost the State but a fev.- 

 hundred dollars — a sum far out of proportion to the benefits received 

 if the insect has been delayed in its entrance into Montana even 

 for one year. 



MOSQUITOES 



During the summer of 1914 there was a marked increase in 

 interest in mosquito control in Montana. Knowing that mosquitoes 

 aie exceedingly abundant and troublesome in some localities in 

 the State, it is surprising that there has not been before now 

 a 2'eneral movement for control. This niovement started with 



