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Cotton Pests

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Boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis) and pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) are

serious cotton pests. For much of the 20th century, they caused tens of millions of

dollars in damage to cotton producers, reduced land values, and greatly disrupted

local economies. Both pests entered the United States from Mexico—boll weevil in

the 1890s and pink bollworm in 1917.
APHIS launched the Boll Weevil Eradication Program in 1978 in North Carolina and

Virginia. We expanded the program to Alabama, Florida, and Georgia in 1988. This

program eradicated this pest from more than 99 percent of U.S. cotton acreage. In

2018, APHIS and industry partners successfully eradicated pink bollworm (175.34

KB) from commercial cotton in the United States.

What To Look For

Adult boll weevils damage cotton by feeding on and laying eggs inside the flowers

(squares) and cotton bolls. Feeding may cause smaller bolls to drop from the cotton

plant. Larger bolls that do not drop may be susceptible to boll rot and other

infections. Egg-laying females create an oviposition hole for each egg, then seal it

up with frass (droppings), producing a characteristic brown site. A single female may

produce up to 200 eggs in her lifetime.

Larvae and Pupae

After boll weevil eggs hatch, the larvae feed on the square and/or boll tissue for 7 to

14 days, then pupate for approximately 5 days. Larval damage at infested squares

may cause the cotton plant to drop bolls or render any remaining cotton unsuitable

for harvest.

Photo Gallery

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Show Info

Adult and larval boll weevils damaging cotton. Photo courtesy of Herb Womack,

University of Georgia, Bugwood.org

Adult boll weevil. Photo courtesy of Clemson University - USDA Cooperative

Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org

Adult boll weevil. Photo courtesy of Clemson University - USDA Cooperative

Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org

Close up of an adult boll weevil feeding on a cotton boll. Photo courtesy of USDA

APHIS PPQ - Oxford, North Carolina , USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org

How To Prevent This Pest

Boll weevil eradication activities continue inside the quarantine zone located in the

Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. Vigilant surveillance for boll weevil and other cotton

pests is critical to prevent their establishment in commercial cotton. If you see the

pest or pest damage, report it immediately.

How It Is Treated
Inside the quarantine area, boll weevil is treated with insecticides in accordance with

label instructions and eradication protocols. Every boll weevil captured outside of

the quarantine must be reported immediately to the State Plant Regulatory Official

or State Plant Health Director.

Report Plant Pests and Diseases

Have you seen this pest or signs of pest damage? Immediately report your findings.

Find your State plant regulatory official

Find your State plant health director

Controlling Cotton Pests

Boll Weevil Post-Eradication Standards

Minimum Standards for Boll Weevil Post-Eradication 

This document provides a template for boll weevil post-eradication activities.

State and Industry Boll Weevil Eradication Programs

Check out the links below to learn about ongoing boll weevil survey and eradication

programs.

Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Program

National Cotton Council Boll Weevil Eradication Program

Contact Us

Matthew Aubuchon

National Policy Manager

Email: matthew.aubuchon@usda.gov