34 



Ihal there the average survival was about 3 per cent, 

 of the number of adult weevils present in the field at 

 the time that killing frost occurred. While climatic 

 conditions in Alabama may vary somewhat from those 

 under which this result was found, the winter condi- 

 tions are no more severe. 



Weevils Leave Winter Quarters Grachially in Spring. 

 — Wherever weevils become establislud in the fall 

 some will come out of winter f[uarters the next spring 

 and ])c ready to attack cotton ^is soon as it breaks 

 ground, but the very last of the weevils leaving winter 

 quarters may not emerge until even as late as the first 

 of July. The ])eriod during which weevils are emerg- 

 ing from their winter slielter extends beyond three 

 months. They are therefore ready to attack cotton 

 at any time and can live upon the tender stems for as 

 long as is necessary Ijefore scjuares begin to form. 



Breeding Begins in Sqnares. — As soon as squares 

 appear tlie weevils concentrate their attacks upon 

 them, feeding and laying their eggs therein. By the 

 middle of August it is likely that the weevils will be 

 so abundant, if nothing has been done to control them, 

 tliat no further cotton will be set. The period from the 

 setting of squares to the formation of a goodly number 

 of half-grown to three-fourths grown bolls should be 

 made as short as possible and ui)on the abundance of 

 fruit set during this ])eriod depends the cotton crop in 

 weevil infested fields. 



Migration Occnrs Daring Fall. — From the middle of 

 August until frost checks theii movement, many wee- 

 vils will fly in search of uninfested squares. This 

 night constitutes the fall spread of the insect. The 

 sjn-ead across Alabama from 1910 to IDlf) has been 

 ([uite fully described in the first portion of this bulle- 

 tin. 



FIGHTING THE l^OLL WEEVIL. 



Infestation Permanent. The Mexican cotton boll 

 weevil must be reckoned with in the production of all 

 future cotton crops within Ihe infested area. It is not 

 a passing pest as many may expect it to be. It will 

 continue" to be a factor in cotton i)roduction in Ala- 

 banui so long as cotton shall continue to be grown. 



Cotton Growers Must Reekon With The Weevil.— 

 Observations as to the effect of the weevil in newly 

 infested territory in rc^ducing cotton production shows 



