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stages in squares and small bolls which dry up but 

 remain attached to the plants. Naturally parasitism 

 may increase somewhat as the weevil infestation be- 

 comes older but in no section have the parasites ever 

 shown ability to control the boll weevil practically 

 under natural conditions in the field. Parasite multi- 

 plication must necessarily follow that of its host. Their 

 occurrence is always uncertain and cannot be deter- 

 mined by the ordinary cotton grower. The parasites 

 like the predacious insects must be considered by the 

 farmer as his friends and helpers but he can never 

 afford to neglect the certainty of control by cultural 

 methods for the uncertain and remote possibility of 

 control by any natural enemies. As a general thing 

 parasites have accounted for less than six per cent of 

 the boll weevil stages. 



Birds. — More than fifty different species of birds have 

 been foynd by the U. S. Biological Survey to have fed 

 occasionally upon boll weevils. Most of these capture 

 weevils during their period of spread in the fall of the 

 year. Few birds occur in cotton fields until after the 

 crop is laid by and their attack upon the weevil in the 

 spring and early summer in insignificant. Among these 

 birds the orioles have appeared to be the most abund- 

 ant feeders on weevils during the summer months and 

 the blackbirds and meadow larks during the winter 

 months. Valuable as the quail is from other view- 

 points it is not important as an enemy of the boll 

 weevil. The quail feeds quite largely upon insects of 

 various species as well as upon weed seeds, etc., and 

 is entitled to the highest consideration as a beneficial 

 and valuable game bird. The help of birds as well 

 as of insect predators and parasites is welcome but not 

 a certain dependable natural factor in boll weevil con- 

 trol. 



Cultural Methods of Weevil Control More Certain. — 

 After all that we have written about these most im- 

 portant factors in the natural control of the boll wee- 

 vil we wish to emphasize the fact that they are to be 

 considered only as additional to the far more certain 

 control by artificial cultural methods. Natural control 

 operates as surely, and it may be as largely, in addi- 

 tion to what the farmer is able to do for himself. It 

 is possible for the farmer under average conditions to 

 assure himself a good crop in spite of the boll weevil, 

 so far as seasonal or climatic and soil conditions may 



