The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-01-30

presence of the boil weevil is the far
ing and falling of numbers of squares.
Unfavorable climatic conditions and
careless cultivation, however, frequent
ly cause great shedding, which is of
ten mistaken for weevil damage. Ii
excessive shedding be noted and the
squares upon being cut open show
white, curved grub that has fed upon
the contents there is little doubt that
the boil weevil is the insect causing
the damage.
The boil weevil passes the winter
as an adult or beetle. In the spring
and throughout the fruiting season OF
cotton the eggs are deposited 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 i'm
mediately begins to feed. In from z
to IL days the larva or grub passes
into its pupa stage, corresponding to
the cocoon of butterflies and moths.
This stage lasts from three to FIVE
DAYS. Then the adult issues, and in
about five days begins the production
Of another generation. Climatic condi-
tions cause considerable variation i'll
the duration of the stages, but on an
average it requires from two to three
weeks for the weevil to develop from
the egg to the adult. Males and te-
males are produced in about equal
numbers. The males feed upon the
squares and bolls without moving un-
til the food begins to deteriorate. The
females refrain, throughout most OF
the season, from depositing in squares
visited by other females, but late i'll
the fall, when all of the fruit has be-
come infested, several eggs may be
placed in a single square or boil. As
many as IS larvae have been found IN
a boil. The squares are greatly pre-
ferred as food and as places Tor de-
posting eggs. AS long as a large sup
ply of squares is present the bolls are
not damaged to any serious extent.
The bolls, therefore, have fair chance
to develop as long as squares are be-
ing formed.
Breeds in No Plants
Other Than Cotton.
The cotton boil weevil, so tar as
known. breeds in no plants other than
cotton and the wild cotton of Arizona.
At the present time, at least, the IN
sect is restricted to the cotton plant
as means of development.
In laboratory experiments perform
ed by the Junior author a weevll de-
veloped in the bud of wild plant re-
lated to cotton. Under natural condi-
tons it has not been found developing
in that plant, but the experiments may
indicate tendency for the insect to
acquire new food plant. Adult Doll
weevils frequently have been found
in okra blooms, but repeated OBJ
servations and experiments av
failed to show that the weevil
places its eggs in the pods or can de-
velop in them When confined in bot
ties the adult weevi1 will feed on va
rious substances, such as apples or
bananas, but this is only under the
stress of starvation.
The chief activity of the boil weevil
| is from 9 o'clock in the morning to
in the afternoon. 1t has been found III
experiments performed in Louisiana
THAT during this period of the day O.
| per cent sof the eggs are deposited
Eleven per cent of the eggs are de
posted early in the morning-that is
| from S o'clock to 9. There is some
activity at night Six per cent OF the
eggs are deposited between O'Clock
at night and 5 O'Clock in the morning
Unlike some related insects, the boil
weevil is not attracted ito light. The
fact that somewhat similar species do
come to light in great numbers at
times has frequently caused the belief
that the pest could be controlled by
the use of trap lights.
An interesting habit OF the boil wee
vii is TO feign death-that is, to play
'possum,:' or "sull," as it is popularity
called. When disturbed, the insects
usually contract their limbs and drop
to the ground. This habit is not equal
" strong in all individuals.
The age to which weevils live va
ries according to conditions. During
the winter the longevity is much
greater than in summer. During the
summer season the majority OF Wee
wills do not live longer than so days.
During the cooler part of the year
many of them live as long as six
months. The longest-lived weevil on
record lived from December 10 to the
following October, a period of about
IL months. Undoubtedly such pro-
longed life is exceptional in the usual
form of the weevil The Arizona wee