33 



only wlu'ic (he winlors an^ mild and the summer 

 almosphorc is exceptionally moisl or liiimid. As a 

 result of all of these influences the presence of S|)anish 

 moss has come to be regarded as a very certain indica- 

 tion that heavy weevil damage will occur in that vicin- 

 ity. In fact, in such sections cotton culture has usually 

 been found so uncertain that it has been largely given 

 up in favor of more certain and profitable crops. 



Ilihcniatc Principally Within (]olion Fields. Under 

 ordinary conditions, few weevils fly to any consider- 

 able distance from the cotton fields in search of winter 

 (piarters. They have no power of purposely selecting 

 e\ce})tionally favorable shelter conditions. It is well 

 known, however, that during warm days following 

 frosty nights, weevils having little shelter may be again 

 somewhat active and again enter shelter, so that in 

 lime the weevils gradually secure the most favorable 

 shelter available. The large majority of weevils find 

 winter ({uarters in or near the field in which they were 

 feeding when frost occurred. 



Standing Stalks Give Most Fauorahle Shelter For 

 W^euils. — Innumerable experiments have shown that 

 the most favorable conditions for successful hiberna- 

 tion are found in fields in which cotton stalks, with 

 gra.ss, weeds, fallen leaves, etc., are left undisturbed 

 until nearly time to plant the following spring. Under 

 these conditions, the maximum number of weevils 

 will survive, and unfortunately this is the most com- 

 mon practice throughout the infested area. 



Under E.rceutionalli] Favorable Conditions Over 40 

 per cent, of the Fall Weevils May Snrvive. — A large 

 number of carefully planned and executed experi- 

 ments has been made to determine the etfect of the 

 destruction of green cotton at varying dates in the fall, 

 and the effect of various classes of shelter, upon tue 

 survival of weevils. It has been found that the range 

 in survival is sometimes as low as a fraction of one 

 per cent, when conditions are unfavorable, and again 

 as high as between 40 and 45 per cent, where excep- 

 tionally favorable conditions and seasons have occur- 

 red. It is needless to say that there is very little pros- 

 l)ect for successful cotton culture under the latter con- 

 dition. 



Average Snrvival Abont 3 per cent. — A close study 

 of the weevil in Texas and Louisiana during a numl)er 

 of seasons and in widely separated localities indicated 



