The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-08-24
FIGHTING The BOIL WEEV|L.
Prof. Chanbliss, of Clemson Col
lege, Talks of the Pest.

ious to know all about the, boil weevil,
the little insect that is playing havoc
with the cotton in Texas, and whose
approach is most dreaded in this Sec
tion, will very soon be able to see bot
tied specimens. also photographs of
the insect and their work, in the var
ious towns of the State. The South
Carolina State board of entomology,
having become aware OF the fact that
several farmers in their anxiety and
desire to find about the boil weevil,
had imported specimens and that others
had been known to bring cotton seed
from Texas into the state, sent their
entomologist, Prof. Charles E. Chamb-
liss, to Victoria, Texas, and there, in
company with the United States ex-
perts, study Of the bugs was made
and sufficient specimens were obtain
ed to give the farmers view Of them
without the least danger. Prof. Cham
bliss has returned, after having spent
a month in Victoria, and is now pre-
pared to take active and positive meas
ures should it develop tat the weevils
have reached South Carolina.
Prof. Chambliss is now in Charles
ton and last night, in conversation with
q reporter, said that he would place
on exhibition in the counting rooms
of the News and Courier a tube con-
tanning weevils as shown in the three
stages of larva, pupa and adult A pho
tograph giving different views of the
affected cotton and the insects will be
placed i'm the Office later.
Regarding the life and habits of the
boil weevil,, Prof Chambliss said
that the female deposited her eggs in
the immature anthers of the square
and that the larva emerged in three
days. An abundance Of rich nitrogen
eous food is at hand and the larva
feeds here for eight days within the
square, and then changes to the .pupa
state and remain so for four days.
The mature insect then emerges,
but as it takes two days for it skele-
ton to harden it remains and then cuts
its way out. A week is then spent
feeding externally on the squares,
after which the females begin to lay
eggs. The insect deposits one egg at
time III a hole cut deep into the
square and lays only about five to
seven eggs a day, continuing for fifty
to seventy days. The only external
indication of the presence Of the eggs
is wart on the boil. Three days be-
fore the square drops it flares. The
time from egg to adult is about twenty
four days and a part Of this time,
about half, is spent while the boil is
on the ground after dropping off the
plant. The boil weevil that comes
forth late in the fall finds refuge in
brush and leaves and hibernates until
spring.
q In regard to the Guatemalap ants
Prof. .Chambliss said that he had
observed them while at Victoria, but
that they had not really had good
trial yet. It was not possible to say
very much about them at present.
Clemson College was the second in
sittution in the South to take up the
matter of studying the boil weevll.
and the enterprise and forethought of
the chronological board in sending
Prof. Chambliss to Texas will certain
Iy commend it to the farmers of the
State. The board, which is made up
from the trustees Of Clemson, is com.
posed of NJ L. Donaldson, chairman,
J. E. Wannamaker aud L. A. Sease.
Prof. Chambliss's mission to Char
lesion also includes the study of the
rice interest and the insects that
annoy and injure the crop of the rice
planters of this section. Dr.. Metcalf,
the botanist, also of Clemson, is also
here in connection with the investiga
tion of the rice fields, and he will
work with Prof Chambliss in the study
of conditions. News and Courier.