97 



available food supply . With the proboscis extended 

 they vary from 1-8 to 1-3 of an inch in length and in the 

 middle of the body are from 1-25 to 1-8 of an inch broad. 

 ( See Fio-, 4. ) 



Fl£ 



/ 



Mexican cotton boll loeevil (Anthonomus grandis). 

 (Bull. 45, Div. Ent., U. 8. Dept. Agr.) 



x'6 



The color of the boll weevil varies with the size — the 

 smaller weevils bein'i' darker brown and the lar<:>er Avee- 

 vils being light yellowish brown. The average color be- 

 tween these two extremes is a grav brown or dark vel- 

 low brown. The yellowish color of the larger specimens 

 is due to the presence of numerous yellowish scales that 

 are more conspicuously formed in large than small wee- 

 vils. These scales, however, often become rubbed off, 

 leaving the dark brown color of the cliitin. The sexes, 

 however, cannot be distinguished as is often supposed 

 by an}^ question of either size or color. 



The average length of life of the adult weevils on 

 squares is about 10 weeks for males and 9 weeks for fe- 

 males. On the bolls it is nearly 3 weeks for males, but 

 onlv about 2 weeks for females. 



Feeding Habits. 



Until the females begin to oviposit the feeding habits 

 of both sexes are alike. Bolls and leaves are seldom fed 



