Montana farmer-stockman. [volume], August 01, 1954, Image 1

About Montana farmer-stockman. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1947-1993

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
hiS^ORiOAL SOCIETY
Ur MONTANA
HELENA
August 1, 1954
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Section 1- 4 0
pages
Section 2—to follow—56 pages
(Annual Livestock Section)
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By RAY OZMON
IGH in the mountains of Custer National
Forest in Stillwater County a minor
infestation of Mormon crickets was reported
this summer. Numbering only 3 to 25 per
square yards, the insects caused only neg
ligible damage. No crops in the valley below
were in any immediate danger.
But when crops are harvested in the
area in 1956, farmers and ranchers can
thank the crop pest control division of the
United States Department of Agriculture
for its work in stamping out the infestation
promptly this year. Under the direction of
Ivar Twilde, supervisor for grasshopper and
cricket control in Montana, an airplane bait
spreading crew moved in and, in the early
morning hours of one day, treated the 2,500
acre area involved.
Twilde estimates that, uncontrolled, this
infestation could have increased to a cricket
population that by 1956 might affect a 10,
000-acre area in Stillwater County instead
of the 2,500 acres affected this year.
This baiting operation in Stillwater Coun
ty was the last of several conducted in Mon
tana this summer. More than 20,000 acres
were baited, including 8,000 in Powell Coun
ty, 11,000 in Big Horn County and the 2,500
in Stillwater County. In Powell County one
rancher counted 52 crickets in one square
foot. Crop damage was almost 100 per cent
in a limited area.
All of this control work was done with
poisoned bait. Rolled wheat is used. Two
ounces of aldrin in one gallon of diesel fuel
H
COVERS MONTANA AND NORTHERN WYOMING
will treat 200 pounds, and in lightly infested
areas only 5 to 10 pounds per acre are need
ed. Up to 20 pounds per acre might be
needed in heavy infestations. The bait does
the job.
But, even so, entomologists are not sat
isfied. It's so much easier to treat grasshop
pers, the Mormon cricket's close relative. If
the minutest drop of aldrin in diesel oil just
touches a grasshopper it makes a good grass
hopper of him. He's dead in minutes. But the
cricket just laughs at contact sprays. The
poison affects him only if he eats it. Hence
the bait.
What makes the cricket so tough? Ento
mologists know that it is a thin coat of a
kind of wax he wears. The grasshopper
doesn't have this coat.
What is the nature of this coat that pro
vides the cricket such effective protection?
That's what entomologists want to find out.
Right now a research project is under way
at Montana State College under the direction
of Dr. James Pepper, professor of zoology
and entomology, to determine the chemical
structure of this remarkable wax. Once this
structure is known the hope is that a solvent
can be found for the wax. With such a sol
vent poison sprays could be made just a*
lethal for crickets as they now are for
grasshoppers.
But more than that—if this wax is such
an effective protection for crickets, why
couldn't it be just as effective for other
things—machinery, (Please turn to page 12)
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Farmers Want His Scalp,
Industry Wants His Coat
The Mormon cricket is tough. That high gloss you see is
due to a protective wax coating that makes him im
mune to all contact poisons. Researchers are seeking
ways to penetrate that coating for easier control. In
the meantime effective control is achieved by baiting.
About 20,000 acres of land were treated in Montana this
summer to hold Mormon cricket in check. (USDA photo)
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This is the stage of growth of the crickets found ia
the area of the Custer National Forest which was
baited by USDA crews in July. Not yet fully mature
the females had not yet laid their eggs, so treatment
at that time was effective in checking further infes
tation. After the eggs are laid it is too late. Upper
insect in this photo is a male, lower is female. (MF-S
photo)
This is the first section of the
Aug. 1 issue. Watch for the annual
Beef Production
Section
to follow soon.