The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1904-08-16
TALKS ON INSECT PESTS.
Xu.-The Boll-Weevil Not in North Carolina; A Brief
Account of the Insect.
Editors Progressive Farmer

0NOV0AS "
Editors Progressive Farmer:
In view {. the fact that there are continual
rumors and reports that the cotton boll-weevil
has reached North Carolina it seems well at this
time to give a few facts bearing on this point.
In every case where any definite tangible report
has reached us that this pest had been found in
this State, we have promptly made every effort to
secure specimens. In every case where specl-
mems have been sent to US it has proved to be
something else. One man sent a caterpillar near
ly an inch long which was boring into the stalk.
Others have sent the common boll-worm which IS
fully discussed in a circular which the writer will
send on application. Another has sent in quite
a number of little leaf-beetles which have really
done some injury the past two seasons, but which
are not at all closely related to the boll-weevil.
Another has sent me one of our most common
click-beetles or 'jack-snappers," while still an
other sent in our well-known garden pest, the
Harlequin Cabbage Bug, or "Terrapin Bug" L
recite these instances to show how groundless
these reports have been. And / wish to urge our
farmers not to place faith in such newspaper re-
ports unless there is some authoritative evidence
upon which to accept them. The boll-weevil may
appear at any time in this State, and very likely
others will discover it. before we do, but certain
it is that the reports thus far circulated are with
out foundation.
At this time the true cotton boll-weevil is only
known definitely to exist in the two States of
Texas and louisiana. In the latter State it is
known in only one parish County, which is next
to the Texas border.
The farmers of this State should keep them
selves informed regarding this pest. They should
write to the United States Department of Agri-
culture at Washington, D. O., and ask for all the
Farmers Bulletins" bearing on the subject, and
should carefully study the bulletins when they get
them.
The adult cotton boll-weevil is about the size
of a common. house-hy though it is a hard-shell
beetle instead of a delicate two-winged fly. The
general color of the beetle is a grayish or reddish
brown. The head is provided with a stout beak or
snout which is about half as long as the BODY.
The beetles do not take flight readily and are cas-
lily captured with the fingers. The eggs are laid
in the young square or in the boil, and the little
white grub which matches from the egg lives in
side. These grubs always live to maturity inside
the same boil in which they hatch from the egg.
When full-grown this grub is about one-half inch
in length and still white in color. It then changes
to a white papa, still inside the same square or
boil, and finally energies as an adult beetle. which
lays eggs and dies.
When the young square becomes infested bv the
grub, or larva, OF the bol-weevil, it soon drops
TO the ground,-but the infested bolls USUALLY re-
main on the plant.
Readers of The Progressive Farmer p ra-
quested to keep a sharp watch for the boll-weevil
ana should send me specimens which thew susnect
put DO not announce that you have found #. until
you have had the pest identified by some compe-
tent entomologist.
FRANKLIN SHERMAN, JR..
Entomologist, Department of Agriculture. Ra-