New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-17
COTTON BOIL WEEVIL.
The RaUages 1t Has CauSed-HOSo
Insect Does It's Work.

The United States Census report recently issued
gives startling figures as to the great damage
done TO the cotton industry IN the last year through
xhe ravages Of the boE weevil. Hitherto much
speculation had been made as to actual losses
which thought TO be not disastrous and
serious reported Government statisticians. how
ever have automatically summed up the seasons
losses. The Census Bureaus report gives the total
crop 10O45614 bales OF a 600 pound standard
This is about 10000 bales less than that produced
last year The total loss TO the State OF Texas up
40 date is about Sl25OlO.0oO
This enemy holds sway over one-third Of the
cotton acreage OF the United States which pro-
ouces under normal conditions IS per cent Of the
total cotton crop. The average productive crop
of the United States represents value Of $500 CO.,
600: the possible ultimate damage II the pest should
spread this whole belt might be in the neigh
borhood Of S25OOOOOoO annually. provided means
OF checking the ravages found The American
Museum OF Natural History has just arranged q
special exhibition, with actual specimens from the
snfected localities in Texas showing in vivid con-
tFsst the healthy and full grown boil in fun bloom
end unaffected. and the same with growth arrested
through the work Of the pest.
The insect is said 10 have come originally from
the wild cotton II first invaded Mexico IN
ass. and gradually spread northward year by
year until the RIO Grande was reached. In
Mexico no organized efforts were made TO
fight the weevil The cultivation OF cotton in
Infested regions practically abaAdoned. During
the summer Of lssi planters along the Rio Grande
and Southwestern Texas discovered in their cotton
fields the presence OF a small grayish. long-nosed
srmor-clad beetle about the size OF a common
house fly. The States and the planters at q
loss 10 devise effective means TO drive away the
invader. The Department of Agriculture came TO
the assistance OF the planters. and special field
agents from the division Of entomology to make
careful Investigations Of this eneruy and invader
and 20 devise plans for its externtnation SinSs
then these scientists have waged relentless warfare
opon tho TVeey and MADE most exhaustive practical
experiments 10 wipe out the insect and have been
partly successful Recognizing the seriousness of
This pest. Congress has just appropriated $4,000
70 further aid in discriminating the weevil.
The adult weevil averages about one-fourth OF an
snch IN length and has beak about half the length
OF the body. II IS OF a grayish or reddish brown
color The insect exists IN four stages-egg larvae.
pupa and adult. All The stages except the last
occur inside OF the cotton square or boil The
egg is deposited By the female weevI in a cavity
Formed by eating into the fruit OF the plant. II
matches. under normal conditions in two or TIRES
days. and the grub Immediately begins 20 feed.
IN from seven 10 twelve Gays the larva grub
passes into he pups quiet. stage corresponding
20 the cocoon OF the skworm This stage lasts
from three 10 five days. Then the adult weevil
issues. ana in about days begins the produc-
ocn or another generation. Climatic conditions
cause considerable variation. but on an average
s. requires from two three weeks for a reevil
70 develop from the egg the adult
The painest indication OF the presence Of the
weevl IN cotton field is in the haring and falling
OF the squares. forms. which take place in
general. within day two after the egg is de-
posted. II the planter should observe an unusual
shedding OF the fruit he may easily determine the
cause by gathering a few OF the fallen squares II
upon cutting open these squares he finds a small
whitish. curved grub. there is little doubt that
the cause OF the trouble is the boil weesil The de-
structve methods of attack used by The weevils is
as follows: Having invaded growing field they
begin their fatal work by continually driving their
oaEgerlike 5oaRs into the soft. Juicy half grown
bolis and squares OF the unopened bloom OF the
growing cotton. After this they deposit an egg In