The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1903-12-30
MEXICAN COTTON BOIL WEEVIL

This insect, a small beetle causing
enormous losses to the cotton industry
in Texas, has not yet been officially
reported as occurring east of Louisi'
ana The probability of it's introduc.
| ton into Georgia, as we'll as into other
cotton-growing states, is such that the
Board of Entomology has deemed 1t
| advisable to include this pest in the
list of dangerous insects. If the Boil
Weevil had to depend entirely upon its
natural means of spread, ie by flight
from field to field, it would require
many years for it to reach Georgia
| from the infested area in Texas. I'm
fortunately, however, the weevil is of
ten contained in cotton seed from in.
tested cotton fields and in such seed
may be transported to any cotton
growing section, there to begin anew
its destructive career. It is also fire.
quently found in unginned cotton. AS
it is not likely that any of the latter
is shipped from Texas to points east
of the Mississippi, the danger of in.
PRODUCING this pest in cotton seed is
the principal one that confronts our
farmers and cotton planters.
While the Boil Weevil is not al
present known to infest more than
about three-fourths of the cotton-grow.
ing area of Texas, yet its spread is
so rapid that within a short time il
will be found in every county of Tex
as where cotton is grown. The loss
in Texas, in 1902, due to this pest,
is conservatively estimated at over
235, 5000 bales or over $800,000 Gre
port on the Bon Weevil by
Fred. w. Mally in the annual re-
port of the State Entomologist
of Texas, 1902, page 10). This
fact alone is sufficient to warn the
planters against taking the risk OF
introducing the Boil Weevil into Geor'
gia With a view to postponing the
introduction of the weevil inc Geor.
gia as long as possible, we would
strongly discourage the Importation OF
cotton seed Cor unginned cotton), even
in small quantities, from Texas points.
We would also urge that farmers and
planters watch their cotton closely for
the appearance of any new or unfa'
miliar insect pest, and send to this
office for Identification, all such in
sects. BY this cooperation we hope
to locate the Boil weevil promptly,
should it become introduced into this
state, and can, in such case, take
immediate steps for at least retarding
it's spread
It is the intention of this Depart.
ment to shortly publish a somewhat
extended bulletin upon the Boil Weevil
and other important cotton insects.
Any person desiring copy of same
should write the State Entomologist,
Atlanta, Ca, and as soon as published
the bullein will be sent all such appli'
cants free of charge.
At a meeting of the Georgia Stale
Board of Entomology, held at the State
Capitol, Angus %, 1903, the following
regulation regarding the Importation
of cotton seed was adopted This
regulation has the force OF law anG
is now in effect:
1T shall be unlawful for any firm,
person or corporation to bring into
the State of Georgia, or to have in
possession, for any purpose, any living
Mexican Boil Weevil or any cotton
POLLS, squares, plants, seed containing
the adult, pupal, larvaI or egg stage
OF the Mexican Boil Weevill
mo cotton seed grown in the states
of Texas or Louisiana, or consigned
from points in those states, shall be
shipped into the State of Georgia
without being accompanied by GER
tifcate signed by a duly authorized
State or Government Entomologlst.
stating that said cotton seed has been
tumlgated in such manner as to kill
any Boil Weevil, larvae or pupas
which may be contained therein"
WILMON NEWELL,
State EutomOlOgist.