Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-07-04

other words, there must never be q
let-up. Many Texas farmers con-
cluded that the weevil was not do
ing them any serious damage, but
probably more harm was done in
Texas during the season Of 1921 than
any other year since it first invaded
that state.
The characteristics and life history
of the weevil are more or less IA
miliar to all. The adult weevil is
about one-fourth inch long, with a
breadth of about one-third it's length.
The snout is about one-half the
length of the body. Variations in
size are no doubt due to the amount
Of food the insect has obtained dur
ing the stages Of it's development.
Individuals which have recently
emerged are likely to be yellowish in
color, but gradually change to gray
or black in the course Of a few
weeks.
There are many weevils which re-
semble the boil weevil, and much
confusion has arisen in the minds of
farmers on that account. Those in
doubt should send weevils in for ex-
animation to some competent au-
thority.
The most certain evidence of the
presence Of the boil weevil in a cot
ton field is the fiaring of the bolls
and the falling of a considerable
number Of squares. The weevil
passes the winter as an adult beetle.
Throughout the fruiting season of
cotton eggs are deposited by the fe-
males in cavities formed by eating
into the fruit of the plants. These
eggs hatch in about three days and
the grub begins to feed Immediately.
After to IL days the grub passes
into the pupa stage, which lasts from
three to five days longer. The adult
then escapes from the boil and in
about five days more begins the pro-
duction of another generation.
The weevil is principally active
from o'clock in the morning to 5
o'clock in the afternoon. When dis
turbed the insect plays 'possum." If
the plants are agitated it drops to
the ground and feigns death. The
age to which this insect lives varies,
but is probably not longer than fifty
days.
The weevil hibernates during the
winter under any cover which will,
give it protection. Most of the wee
wills which pass through the winter
successfully do not remain in the
cotton fields, but secure cover along
ditch banks, along hedge rows, and
in the farm outbuildings. The win
ter is very destructive to weevils,
and a very large per cent Of those
which 60 into Information die. There
are only small number Of seed
weevils, therefore, as it were, to
emerge in the spring, and the more
successfully these can be fought
early in the season the longer will
be delayed the development Of enough
broods to prove a menace to the
cotton crop.
Some factors which affect the de-
velopment of the weevil unfavor-
ably are heat and insects which prey
upon the Weevil. Infested squares
fall to the ground during the hot,
dry days and dry up very quickly,
and the larvae are killed in a very
few minutes.
Forty-five species of insects prey
upon the boil weevil, so the destruc-
ton effected in this way varies great
ly. Birds are also agents in the de-
struction of the boil weevil and there
fore are worthy of protection.
In controlling the boil weevil the
following factors should receive care
full consideration. The best methods
of controlling the Weevil may be
briefly outlined as follows: Early in
the season the development of the
weevil is slow, because of the COM
paratively low temperatures. Pick ali
adult Weevils out of the bolls Of cot
ton, therefore, at least once week
and destroy them. This will hold
the development Of many genera
tons in check, as the emergence
from alternating quarters is slow
during the spring. Hot, dry weather
during the summer is a great aid
in controlling weevil development.
Moist. cloudy weather, on the other
hand, favors their multiplication.
Weevil mortality, is high during
the alternating season, and this in
sect is attacked during the summer
by many enemies. 1t is also pre-
sumably dependent on cotton for re-
production. Actually the cotton plant
produces many more squares than
it can carry to maturity as bolls. I'm
der normal conditions about 60 per
cent of the fruit of a cotton plant
may be shed and still a good crop
obtained. Therefore, if weevil dam
age to the bolls does not exceed GU
per cent, a fair crop may still be
obtained. 1t is easy to see, there
fore, that up to a certain point the
puncturing Of the fruit by the wee
wills does not reduce the crop, be-
cause Of the large numper of squares
that would be shed off naturally.
1t is important to remember that
the weevil has a strong tendency
to seek moisture wherever it can be
found on the surface of the plant.