April, '15] 



PARKER: ALFALFA LOOPER 



287 



Extent of the Outbreak 



In Montana the insect attracted attention in all parts of the state 

 but was particularly injurious in the central and south central countries. 

 Definite records of injury were either reported or personally made in 

 the folloTN-ing counties: Sheridan, Dawson, Custer, Rosebud, Big Horn, 

 Cascade, Broadwater, Jefferson, Madison, Gallatin, Missoula, and 

 Sanders. 



The outbreak in ^Montana was so widespread that we were much in- 

 terested to know how far it extended into other states and a letter of 

 inquirj^ in regard to the occurrence of the insect in 1914, was therefore, 

 addressed by Professor Cooley, to entomologists in all of the states 

 west of the 96th meridian. By this means it was learned that it had 

 been abundant enough to attract attention and do considerable injury 

 in the following states: South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Oklahoma, 

 Utah, Nevada, California, Idaho and Oregon. Dr. C. Gordon Hewitt 

 wrote that it was also unusually abundant in southern British Colum- 

 bia and Alberta. Negative replies were received from North Dakota, 

 Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and Washington. 

 The courtesy of the several entomologists who so promptly furnished 

 the above data is greatly appreciated and is here acknowledged. 



The remainder of this paper is based on observations made by the 

 writer within the state of Montana, with the exception of several refer- 

 ences to statements made by entomologists in other states. 



Seasonal History 



During the first week in May a day-flying Noctuid moth attracted 

 attention in many parts of the state by its unusual abundance. In 

 Bozeman it was particularly abundant about currant blossoms, while 

 in the Clark's Fork Valley, thousands of the moths were attracted to 

 the apple orchards, where they caused some apprehension among fruit- 

 growers. INIr. T. H. Parks writes that in southern Idaho the moths 

 were particularly attracted to cherry blossoms. As a matter of record 

 a number of moths w^ere collected and were determined by Mr. J. A. 

 Hyslop of the Bureau of Entomology as Autographa gamma californica 

 Speyer. Because of this insect's former record the incident was con- 

 sidered of but little importance and was for the moment forgotten. 

 The writer happened to be in Billings on June 9 and there learned that 

 some insect was doing great damage to alfalfa on the Huntley Project 

 which is in the Yellowstone Valley about fifteen miles east of Billings. 

 The following day was spent in visiting alfalfa fields on the Project. 

 Everyw^here sweet clover and alfalfa were heavily infested with a 

 semi-looper which was recognized as the alfalfa looper. 



At this time, June 10, the majority of the worms were in the third 



