Professor, Animal Science
MSU-Bozeman
Bozeman, MT 59717
phone (406) 994-2402
fax (406) 994-5589
email: blodgett@montana.edu

Education
Ph.D. Kansas State University, Dept. Entomology, 1989
M.S. Kansas State University, Dept. Entomology, 1987
M.S. Cornell University, Dept. Vegetable Crops, 1980
B.S. Syracuse University, Dept. Biology, 1974

Classes
ENTO 405 Chemical Use in Agriculture

Research Interests
Lygus bug
Carabid beetles
Alfalfa weevil and aphid
Alfalfa seed and leafcutter bee
Wheat stem sawfly (WSS)
Cereal leaf beetle

Extension Programs
Alfalfa Stand Persistence and Longevity: State producers have identified alfalfa stand productivity and longevity as a critical need for forage production. In February 2002, the Extension Forage Working Group met with producers and USDA, NRCS to coordinate efforts among county Extension Agents, Experiment Station, on-campus faculty and producers for developing responses to critical needs. Participants indicated their interest in determining factors that limit stand longevity so that persistence of alfalfa stands can be improved and reseeding costs reduced. Taproot feeding by the clover root curculio, defoliation by alfalfa weevil, root and crown diseases, seeding practices and fall harvest management were identified by producers and County Agents as individual factors whose interaction is a serious impediment to stand longevity and persistence. (Funded by WRSARE)

Alfalfa weevil: A barrier to judicious and timely insecticide application for alfalfa weevil larvae in the intermountain west is the inability to reliably initiate larval monitoring. A study (funded by the WRIPM program 1998-2000) to examine alfalfa weevil larvae development relative to degree day has been initiated in collaboration with University of Wyoming researcher and Extension faculty (M. Brewer).

Cutworm monitoring program: A regional cutworm monitoring and forecast program for pale western and army cutworms (funded by WRIPM 1999-2002) is being initiated with University of Wyoming researcher and Extension faculty (M. Brewer).Although adult surveys have been conducted since 1992 in Montana, critical environmental data will be incorporated into a risk forecast that will deliver risks of cutworm activity and infestation to County Agents, consultants and producers in the northern Great Plains.

Cereal leaf beetle: Examination of insecticide use in barley, an examination of insecticide efficacy for CLB control, and an examination of economic injury level for cereal leaf beetle is underway. As this pest spreads through the intermountain and Pacific Northwest, information on changing insecticide use patterns attributed to this pest will be collected. (funded by WRPIAP1998-2000).

High Plains IPM Guide: Colorado, Nebraska, Montana and Wyoming are collaborating on producing insect and disease recommendations for the High Plains. Funding obtained from USDA,CSREES,WRIPM and USEPA Region VIII have enabled this publication to be web-available, to include high quality color photos of most pests, and to be easily updatable.

Recent Publications

• Blodgett, S., A. Lenssen, S.D. Cash. 200_. Black grass bug damage to intermediate wheatgrass forage quality. Can. Entomol. (submitted).
• Blodgett, S., M. Ivie and M. Majerus. 200_. First Larval Host Record for Megacyllene angulifera (Casey) (Cerambycidae). Coleopterists Bull. (submitted).
• Goosey, H.B., P. G. Hatfield, S. L. Blodgett, R. W. Kott, A. W. Lenssen, and T. M. Spezzano. 200_. Incorporating Sheep into Dryland Grain Production Systems: IV. A Large Scale Approach. Small Ruminant Res. (submitted).
• Hatfield, P.G., S. L. Blodgett, T. M. Spezzano, H. B. Goosey, A. W. Lenssen, and R. W. Kott. 200_. Incorporating sheep into dryland grain production systems: I Impact on over-wintering larva populations of Wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cintus Norton, (Hymenoptera: Cephidae). Small Ruminant Res. (submitted).
• Hatfield, P.G., H. B. Goosey, T. M. Spezzano, S. L. Blodgett, A. W. Lenssen, and R. W. Kott. 200_. Incorporating sheep into dryland grain production systems: III Impact on changes in soil bulk density and soil nutrient profiles Small Ruminant Res. (submitted).
• Hatfield, P. G., A. W. Lenssen, T. M. Spezzano, S. L. Blodgett, H. B. Goosey, and R. W. Kott. 200_. Incorporating sheep into dryland grain production systems: II Impact on changes in biomass and weed frequency. Small Ruminant Res. (submitted).
• Goosey, Hayes, B., P. G. Hatfield, and S. L. Blodgett. 200_. Evaluation of Alfalfa Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Densities and Regrowth Characteristics of Alfalfa Grazed by Sheep in Winter and Spring. J. Entomol. Sci. accepted
• O’Neill, K.M., R.P. O’Neill, S. Blodgett and J. Fultz. 2004. Composition of pollen loads of Megachile rotundata in relation to flower diversity (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). J. Kansas Entomol. Soc. 77: 46-52.
• Blodgett, S.L. and A. W. Lenssen. 2004. Distribution of alfalfa weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) larvae among post-cutting locations. J. Econ Entomol. 97: 1319-1322.
• Hoff, K.M, M. J. Brewer, and S. L. Blodgett. 2002. Alfalfa weevil larval sampling: Comparison of the shake-bucket and sweep-net methods and effect of training. J. Econ. Entomol. 95 (4).
• Tharp, C., S. L. Blodgett and G. D. Johnson. 2000. Susceptibility of the cereal leaf beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) to imidacloprid under greenhouse and field conditions in barley. J. Econ. Entomol. 93: 38-42.
• Hatfield, P. G., S. L. Blodgett, G. D. Johnson, P. M. Denke, R. W. Kott and M. W. Carroll. 1999. Sheep grazing to control wheat stem sawfly, a preliminary study. Sheep & Goat Res. J. 15: 122-123.
• Blodgett, S. L., A. W. Lenssen and S. D. Cash. 2000. Harvest with raking for control of alfalfa weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). J. Entomological Sci. 35: 129-135.
• Blodgett, S. L. & P. M. Denke. 1999. Blister beetles (Coleoptera: Meloidae) occurring in Montana alfalfa. J. Entomol. Sci. 34: 113-118.
• Brey, C. W., G. D. Johnson & S. L. Blodgett. 1998. Survey of Montana grasses for wheat curl mite (Acari: Eriophyidae), the vector of wheat streak mosaic virus. J. Agric. Entomol. 15: 173-181.