The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-01
of Insect Hordes Calls for Prompt Protective Measures
Weevil and
Locust Threaten
F ar Fun g De W
astation-Mild
Winter Increases
Number of Bugs

in the main responsible for this re-
duction.
And now for some general details
about the boil weevil itself, and the
lure which draws it especially to the
cotton boil. The weevil has a periodic
thirst and, apparently, there is Just
one liquid that appeals overwhelmingly
to it's palate. On the underside OF cot
ton leaves, on the midrib. or principal
vein. and sometimes on two other
veins. can be found a little elongated
depression which usually looks sticky
and frequently holds drop Of liquid.
On the outside Of the squares at the
base Of each bract or leaflet are other
little cups. and between the bract and
the bud itself are three more cups. Al
the bottom of the flower cup still moro
| Of these tiny vessels are found. They
| are called nectar cups because they
| exude a sweet liquid. This Is the
tipple that the boil weevil Is drawn TO.
The adult boil weevil is about one
| fourth Of an inch in length. but it's
size depends upon the amount OF food
| that 1t obtains while in the larval
| stage. The boil weevil passes the
winter in the adult condition. In tho
| spring and throughout the fruiting
| season Of cotton the eggs are de-
| posted by the female weevils In
| cavities formed by eating into the fruit
| OF the plant. An egg matches under
! normal conditions In about three days
and the grub Immediately begins to
| feed. In from seven to twelve days
! the larva or grub passes into Is pupai
stage. corresponding to the cocoon OF
butterflies and moths. This stage lasts
| from three TO five days. Then the
| adult issues and in about I'VE days be
gins the production Of another genera
| ton.
Three Weeks 20 Mature.
Climatic conditions cause consider
able variation In the duration OF the
stages. but on an average II requires
| from two to three weeks for the weevil
! to develop from the egg to the adult
| Males and females are produced in
about equal numbers. The males feed
upon the squares and boils without
moving until the food begins to de-
| teriorate. The females refrain from
depositins eggs in squares visited by
other females. AS many as fifteen
Larvae have been found in a single boil.
A conservative estimate of the progeny
Of a single pair of weevils during a
season, beginning on June 20 and ex-
tending to November 4, Is 1875, 100,
| The number of weevtls alternating
successfully has been determined very
accurately for different conditions. Out
| 10
the winter OF 1866 These weevils
were placed in a variety OF conditions
which must have approa ched those
that weevils must naturally encounter.
The winter referred TO was practically
a normal one so far as temperature
and precipitation were concerned. In
extensive work during the winter OF
1867, out Of $4,000 weevils lis per
cent. survived, That winter was
mild one.
In the face Of the prolific breeding OF
the weevils. the steadily increasing
regional areas in which the insects are
found, and tho fact that the past win
ter was relatively speaking, a warm
one, II is not hard to understand why
a bill has been introduced recently in
the Legislature Of Florida to ask the.
Federal Secretary of Agriculture 10
recommend to Congress the suspension
OF cotton planting for one year. 1t is
hoped in this way to substantially
stamp out the boil weevil by denying
II its only food
This same scheme has been sug-
gested before, and at that time-1sl3
it was estimated that the loss to
the farmers would amount to $685.
100000. The idea was to establish
a prohibition strip, or dead zone" a
hundred miles wide, running through
Georgia, Alabama. Tennessee and
Florida. Measures OF this nature
would be heroic. but it is the belief
OF many experienced persons that
only in this way could lasting results
be obtained.
On the other hand. the Government
authorities have shown that the boil
weevil can be held greatly in check
by proper cultural processes and also
by the use of insecticides which can
be sprayed upon the plants at certain
stages Of their growth. BY the latter
process the weevil's drink can be
poisoned, and as It Stakes its thirst
at least once every day its doom can
be sealed if this precaution he adopted
promptly and applied broadcast Ger
tain II is, unless corrective measures
OF radical nature are resorted 10
throughout the entire cotton belt, we
shall have to pay still higher for our
cotton textiles. and we may even he
| hard pressed to find enough of the
native product to meet our accus-
! toned demands.