46 



The Bulletin. 



and grow entirely within the boll in which they are hatched. When 

 full grown these larvse are of the size shown to the left in Fig. 20, 

 never more than one-half inch in length, and white in color. 



In Fig. 21 may be seen, natural size, several steps in the develop- 

 ment of the larvae and its transformation to the adult weevil condi- 

 tion. The young, newly-hatched larva is shown at a, and a later stage 

 of its growth is shown at b. When it gets full grown it changes to 

 the pupa shown in the square of c. From this it changes again to the 

 adult beetle (Figs. 19 and 22) which provides for another generation 

 and then dies. 



By preference, the eggs are laid in the buds or squares, and it is 

 only in late summer and fall that they are laid in the bolls to any con- 

 siderable extent. 



Fig. 21. 



-Showing development of Boll-weevil, a, Young larva in young square ; 6, larva 

 nearly grown in square ; c, pupa, still inside square. All natural size. 



(After Howard, Bur. Ent., U. S. Dept. Agr.) 



When the squares are punctured and eggs laid in them they al- 

 most invariably become weakened and drop off. Squares are often 

 shed even when not infested, so the shedding alone is not an indica- 

 tion of the presence of the weevil. 



When the bolls are infested they do not ordinarily drop. Instead, 

 they may continue to grow until about mature, but they do not open 

 properly, so that it is not practicable to get the cotton by ordinary 

 means. They are apt to be stunted, dwarfed and misshapen, so that 

 they are valueless, but they do not drop. 



From this account it will be seen that the entire life of the in- 

 sect is such that it is not much exposed either to the attacks of 

 birds or other enemies or the application of remedies. Indeed, the 

 general life-history is very similar to that of the Strawberry-weevil, 



