The Neshoba Democrat., 1921-11-17
DO QUAIL EAT BOIL WEEvILS
A MUCH ROOTED QUESTION FOR YEARS AMONG
FARMERS AND HUNTERS HAS BEEN
PUT At REST BY OUR STATE
ENTYMOLOCiST

something To say regarding the
quails prediction for boil weevils
We wrote to our good friend, the
State Entymologist, to exhaust the
lauthorities on the question for us,
and his answer appears below. 1t
would seem that the qua is neither
lnsectivorous nor herbivous, In its
eating habits, but omnivorous, and
that it eats very few weeyils.
Agyicultma al College Miss.
November 8, 1921
Mr. G. It. Rand Editor
The Neshoba Democrat
Philadelphia, Miss.
Dear Mr.. Rand;
Your letter of November 1st.
has been received Quail in their
food habits do not differ very much
from chickens, and other closely re-
lated birds. They are almost omniv-
lrous iE their food habits. Their
food, however consists chiefly of
seeds and of insects. / do not think
that they look especially for boil
weevils, but if quail happens to
run across boil weevil, / am quite
certain that it will not pass it by. AS
you may want the opinion of some
bett er authority in regard to this
matter, / will qnote from several
government publications;
From Farmers bulletin No. 755, u.
S. d. A Common Birds in South
eastern United States" (1918) Page 81
Bob-White;-- Animal food chief
ly insects, composes 16 of this birds
food. From June to August. when
insects are plentiful, insects form al
bout 36 percent of their food. Among
insects eaten are Colorado potato
etle, i2-spotted cucumber beetle
bean leaf beetle, squash lady-bird
wireworms, May beetles, corn.hill
bugs. clover leaf weevil, army worm
-trut- wornEss anu ehiHgii burg.
On the estrepgth of the bob whites
feeding on the bollweeviI, cam
| paign has been waged in several
southern states for complete protec-
tion of the bird This movement is
Ill advised as the bird not prominent
among the enemies of The boil Wee
viii Some 900 stomachs of bobwhites
collected in cotton fields have been
examined, with the result that a
single boil weevil was found in one
stomach. The reports of bob.whites
eating large numbers of boil weeyils
are based on field observations.
which are liable to inaccuracy; and
Upon the behavior of captive birds.
which has little, if any, value as an
indication of their habits under nat
ural conditions.
From U. S. Bilogic II Survey Bull
letin 70. by Howell. Birds that
Fat the Cotton Boil Weevil''. Pg l3
Much has been written concerning
quail as destroyer of boil weevils,
and many persons believe itconsum-
es them in large numbers. Among
stomachs' examined only one con
tanned a bollweevil. The bird that
ate this one was killed at Sequin in
November by Vernon Bailey. How
ever. the quail has been imperiectly
studied during January and June, and
Investigations in these months NAV
show different results.
From U. s. Bilogical Survey Bulle-
tin Nc. 81.
Insects form 1906 percent of bob
whites food for one year. During
Jnne, July, end August they form 35.
81 percent of food. Is percent of
food peetles, s percent bugs, | IL per-
cent caterpillars, nearly Z percent
grasshoppers, l.33 percent miscella-
-neous insects; 2 43 percent spiders.
Mr.. F. NJ. Howard writing to Bu-
reau of Entomology from Beeville.
Texas on September 2l, 1901 states;
Zone farmer reports his cotton fields
full Of quail and weevils entirely
absent He found IL boil weevils In
the craw of one bird. We propose
to prohibit killing OF quail in this
season, hoping to save great portion
OF the cotton crop next season
Trusting that have given you the
information youdesire, aud assuring
you we are always glad to serve you
In any way we can and with best
wishes and personal regards, am |
very truly yours, r. w. Harmed
Entomologist.