Fitzgerald enterprise., 1904-01-05
MEXICAN COTTON BOIL wEEvlL

w yin BULL WEEvILa
MS insect, small beetle causing
enormous losses to the cotton industry
III leXas, has not yet been officially
reported as occurring east of Louisi.
ana. The probability of it's introduc.
ton into Georgia, as well as into other
cotton-growing states, is such that the
Board OF Entomology has deemed it
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, i.e., by fight
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. 1t is also fire.
quently found in unginned cotton. AS
1t 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 contronts our
farmers and cotton planters.
while the Boil Weevil is not at
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 short time il
Will be found in every county of Tex
as where cotton is grown The loss
IN Texas, il 1902, due to this pest
Is conservatively estimated at over
2S5,0OO bales or over $8,00,OOO. IRE
port on the Bon Weevil by
Fred. W. Mally in the annual re-
port OF the State Entomologis,
OF Texas, 1902, page 1O). This
fact alone is sufficient to warn the
planters against taking the risk OF
introducing the Boil Weevil into Geor.
gia. With view to postponing the
introduction Of the weevil ino Geor-
g1a as long as possible, we would
strongly discourage the importation ol
cotton seed (or unginned cotton), even
in small quantities, from Texas points
We would also urge that farmers and
planters watch their cotton closely fol
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 a case take
immediate steps for at least retardine
it's spread.
1t is the intention Of this Depart
ment to shortly publish a somewhat
extended bulletin upon the Boil Weevi
and other important cotton insects
Any person desiring a copy of same
should write the State Entomologist
Atlanta, Ga, and as soon as published
the bullein will be sent all such appli
cants free of charge.
At meeting of the Georgia State
Board of Entomology, held at the State
Capitol, Angus 2S, 1903, the followins
regulation regarding the importation
of cotton seed was adopted. Thil
regulation has the force OF law ane
Is now In effect:
1T shall be unlawful for any firm
person or corporation to bring into
the State of Georgia, or to have IL
possession, for any purpose, any living
Mexican Boil Weevil or any cottor
POLLS, squares, plants. seed containing
the adult, pupal, larval or egg stage
| Of the Mexican Boil Weevill.
NO 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 a Ger
tihcate signed by a duly authorized
State or Government EntomoIo g1st
stating that said cotton seed has beer
tumlgated in such manner as to Kill
any Boil Weeyil, larvae or pupae
which may be contained therein"