158 MONTANA EXPEEIMENT STATION 



eniiii^' and broadening uf the leaf blades. A Aery few aphids on a 

 plant may have a surprisingly injurious effect. Some plants show 

 in the later stages of injury a characteristic twisting of the stem 

 and a deformed head. The injury often appears only in spots in 

 the field, but sometimes entire fields are affected and much damage 

 results. 



The only literature on the life-history and control has been 

 issued by this office. A\'e have been able to recommend an effective 

 method of control and we feel that when grain growers become 

 familiar with the insect and the way to control it the damage will 

 be much reduced. 



One important scientific paper on this subject has been pub- 

 lished during the year* and it is intended to print and distribute a 

 bulletin during the coming year. 



A NEW CUTWORM 



A little known cutworm (Eu.voa neai qiiadridentata) was 

 brought to our attention by Senator T. O. Larson of Choteau who 

 reported damage to wheat near Brady in Teton County. A con- 

 siderable number of acres of grain had been severely damaged and 

 some alarm was felt in the neighborhood. This insect was studied 

 in the insectary where valuable information was received and it 

 will be given further attention as we haAe opportunity. It is not 

 probaljle that it will be found to be nearly so important a pest as 

 the army cutworm. 



THE WHEAT STEM MAGGOT 



Farmers in western ]\Iontana reported a peculiar injury to grain 

 in ]\ray. Injured plants when examined were found to contain small, 

 white maggots in tlie axis. These turned out to be the young of 

 the wheat stem maggot. Ccroclmdha fcniortiJis. These maggots 

 bore ddwn through the stem, coinpletely destro3ang the plant, and 

 go out through the crown into the earth where they pupate. The 

 eggs are laid on the leaves by the parent rties Avhich are very small 

 and not easily found. 



The living insects were studied in the insectary and the stages 

 of de\-elopment were worked out. It is hoped that further study 

 may devise a method of controlling this little known pest. 



■ Parker, .J. K. The western wheat aphis. In Journal of f^i-ouoinie 

 EiitoiiKjlogy, Vol. 9, No. ], 1916. 



