Thirteenth Annual Report of the State 

 Entomologist of Montana 



INSECT PESTS OF 1915 



The amount of damage caused b}' insects in ^Montana during 

 the season of 1915 was greater than in any other year since the 

 office of state entomologist was created. The outstanding feature 

 of the year was the abundance of grain pests, the worst of which 

 was the army cutworm. This insect alone destroyed at least 100,000 

 acres of grain. 



The more important insects which came to our notice during 

 the year are briefly discussed and recorded. 



ACABINa 



Leaf Blister Mite (EriopJn/es pjjri Pgst.). For several years 

 the leaf blister mite has beeii increasingly injurious in the apple 

 orchards of the Bitter Root Valley and during the past season it is 

 reported to have done more damage than any other orchard pest. 



Clover Mite (Brijodia prafeiisis Garman). Several letters were 

 received complaining that this mite was invading houses. In one 

 instance it was reported as injuring clover lawns. 



Red Spider (TetTaiu/chiis hijiiaciilntiis Harvey). In the vicinity 

 of Flathead Lake red spiders were unusually injurious to raspberries. 



Spotted Fever Tick (DcrmacentoT venustns Banks). One of 

 the striking features of the season of 1915 was the appearance of 

 this tick in large numbers in eastern Montana where it previously 

 had attracted but little attention. A number of cases of spotted 

 fever were also reported for the first time from this locality. 



ORTHOPTERA 



Grasshoppers (.Icriclidae). Not a single report of grasshopper 

 injury was received during the season, which is rather remarkable 

 considering the al)undance of insects in general. 



Coulee Cricket (Peranahriis scahracoUis Thom.). This large, 

 clumsy cricket, which attracted much attention in Washington during 

 the past summer, also appeared in western ^Montana on the Flathead 

 Reservation. In several places it caused considerable injury. 



HEMIPTERA 



Capsid injury to wheat {Capsus ater Linn). An unusual injury 



