30 



it leads a free and active life. Weevils escape from 

 small bolls as they do from squares, Plate IV, figure o, 

 but in large bolls they wait for the boll to mature and 

 crack open before they mature and then have only to 

 cut their way through the wall of the cell in which they 

 have transformed, Plate IV, figure 6. 



The adult beetle, found on cotton only, is about 1-4 

 inch long, including the slightly curved snout which 

 is one-half as long as the rest of the weevil's body. The 

 color is dark brown, ashy-gra}^ or yellowish brown. 



Signs of Injury. — Among the most conspicuous exter- 

 nal signs of boll weevil presence and injury are the 

 following: the occurrence of open cavities 1-25 to 1-30 

 inch in diameter and reaching down to larger excava- 

 tions among the pollen sacs, Plate 111, figure 3 and Plate 

 IV, figures 1 and 2; the presence of "warts" marking the 

 egg punctures of the weevil; the occurrence of the 

 orange-colored excrement of the beetles on the buds, 

 Plate III, figure 2; the abundant shedding of squares 

 and the consequent scarcity of blooms without accom- 

 panying temperature, rainfall or cultural conditions 

 to cause the shedding. 



HOW WEEVILS SPREAD, MULTIPLY AnD PASS 



THE WINTER. 



Weevils Fly. — The full-grown weevils fly, especially 

 during the period from about August 15 to November 

 15, and their spread into new territory is accomplish(>d 

 almost entirely in this way. The wings, when not in 

 use, are folded under, aiid closely covered and pro- 

 tected bv the hard wing covers that meet in a straii^ht 

 line along the middle of the back of the weevil. As 

 they appear when extended in flight, the wings are 

 shown in Plate II, figure 8. 



Multiply in Top Growth. — WMien female weevils 

 reach new, uninfested territory, they feed for a short 

 time and then begin to deposit eggs at the rale of from 

 6 to 10 per day, in such squares and small bolls as they 

 can find. The egg puncture, Plate 111, figure 4, is sealed 

 up air-tight, after the egg is deposited. Each female 

 may lay several hundred eggs and in the course of 

 three or four weeks a new generation will be produccni 

 in this Held, fhese weevils may continue the process 

 so that before frost kills the plants, a large number of 

 weevils will have been developed from the few weeviljv 

 which flew into new territory. To ])revent this breed- 



