Arizona sentinel and Yuma weekly examiner., 1913-10-16
BULL WEEv|L E 4 DANGER TO
 THE ARIZONA COTTON INDUSTRY

WASHINGTON, D. C., Oct. H. Some months ago an agent of the Bur eau of Plant Industry of the Depart ment of Agriculture announced the dis covery of the boil weevil in Arizona. It was found breeding on the seed pods of wild cotton-like plant known as Thurberia Thespesiodes Recently an agent of the Bureau of Entomology has made a careful investigation of the
 situation. The results are of consid-
 erable importance in connection with the movement that is well under way
 to devote large areas of land in Ari
 zona to the growing of cotton. The question immediately comes up as to
 the effect of the presence of a weevil on the wild plant on cultivated areas. For this reason a preliminary state ment is issued at this time.
 It was found that the boil weevil oc- CUTS more or less regularly where the Thurberia plant is found, although in
 several localities in which expltra tions were made the plant was present but the weevil was not. In two can ons in the Santa Rita mountains, the Weevils were found in considerable numbers. At Roosevelt the Thurberia
 plant was found but no weevils, but the examination was comparatively early in the season and later Observa- tions might have reveiled it's presence In the Tucson mountains neither the plants nor the weevil were found. It is evident from these observations, and others that were made, that the weevil is widespread in the mountains of southeastern Arizona, and it would be easy for it to reach cultivated cot ton is certain localities. As a matter of fact, in one place (near Tucson the weevil was found about five miles from a field which was planted in cotton for the first time this year There seems to be no doubt that the Arizona weeyil will attack cotton readily. In fact, it has done so in several experiments.
 In Texas it is well known that dry conditions tend strangly to check the development of the weevil In fact, this is the reason why tie insect has not advanced far into tue western part of the State. The form Of the weevil which is found in Arizona. however, has evidently ad3rted itself by long occupancy to regions Of very small If it thrives op the Thurber- ia plant in Arizona there seems little doubt that 1t will thrive even better on planted cotton with the moi5ture resulting from irrigation. In fact. it appears that the conditions of culture in Arizona would give the weevfl an impulse to develop much more rapidly. and to cause much more damage than it does to the wild cOttOn-like plants
 It is considered that the situation described carries great danger to tue cotton industry in Arizona, and the importance of destroying the native plants which supports the wee vii should he emphasized There is no apparent reason why the wecyi. " ould not in Jlre the crop even more than it does ill Texas. There is only cne consideration that tends to shG7- hat the ia" age may be less than if 1ther ro&ions. At present the Arizona We,Nil apparently has only one gener- ltion. This is the result of it's adap- -ation to the host plant which fruits { turing only short period in the year The weevil has adopted the habit of 1 passing the winter and large part of | he summer in a quiescent state to at |
 ack the buds of the Thurberia in the | all. This method if reproduction is luite different from that of the true poll weevil which reproduces by sev- eral generations during the season.
 t is not believed, however, that the Arizona weevil will persist in it's pres mt habit of having a single genera ion when it has an opportunity of breeding on cotton. In all probability he opportunities that the continuous production of fruit would give the in
 ect would cause it to take on the
 ame habit of numerous generations. hat the true boil weevil displays The lost that can be said is that the
 hange might take several years time.
 The subject of the possible control f the Thurberia weevil in Arizona is
 nder consideration, and further field tudies will be made. At the present inc there is but one recommendation hat the Department is in a position to 7ake; that is that the Thurberif-
 lants whic hare found to be infested y weevils should be destroyed where yer they occur. The plant is peren- ial and grows from to 12 feet in ieght. It grows in the canOns and on he divides. It can easily be recOgni- T ed by it's general resemb blance to the ', OttOn plants. The leaves are deeply e left, much like those of Sea Island :,