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Deer Lodge County

Ugh, Bugs

Published: 2020
By Kimberly D Richardson
Entomology is the study of insects and in Deer Lodge County we receive about 15 inquiries a season for proper insect identification and insect issues in the home and on the farm. Some insects identified in Deer Lodge County have been economically impactful while others are identified out of constituent curiosity. Those with economic impact include alfalfa weevil, codling moths, and bed bugs. In attempts to better address insects with economic thresholds, Deer Lodge County MSU Extension has cooperated in collection research with Kevin Wanner, PhD, MSU Extension Specialist in Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, and Katrina Mendrey, Apple Program Coordinator at the Western Agricultural Research Center. This summer we had many inquiries about grasshopper and blister beetle infestations decimating crops, shrubs, and gardens, and interestingly these species life cycles are intertwined. With an influx of one, an influx of another can be expected. Typically, most insect samples submitted are from constituents wanting information on whether an insect is harmful to humans or beneficial. In partnership with the Montana State University Schutter Diagnostic Laboratory and MSU Extension Entomology Specialist Laurie Kerzicnik, samples are submitted for proper identification, specific insect information, and mitigation techniques. Fortunately, the Schutter Diagnostic Lab has equipped each county with tools and materials needed to diagnose infestations, identify insects, and submit insects for analysis, so in some instances, agents can provide constituents with immediate results and solutions. In our ever-changing environment, insects are everywhere and Deer Lodge County MSU Extension has helped many constituents with different types of insect issues, despite an intial response of "Ugh, bugs."
Blister Beetles consuming lilac bushes