The Bulletin. 



47 



which is very destructive in the south-eastern part of this State, 

 and which is a close relative of the Cotton Boll-weevil (both belonging 

 to the genus Anthonomus) . 



Habits and Migration. — When the weevils come out .from hiber- 

 nating quarters in the spring, the parts of the cotton fields nearest 

 the hibernating places are attacked first, the weevil spreading later 

 throughout the fields, or to the fields which are more remote from the 

 hibernating quarters. At first they feed in the bud of the plant, 

 but after squares are formed they devote their attention almost en- 

 tirely to them. 



Fig. 22.— A row of adult Boll-weevils, giving an excellent idea of their size and 

 general appearance. Slightly enlarged. 



(After E. D. Sanderson.) 



Late in summer, when the uninfested bolls are about mature and 

 practically all of the young squares have been punctured, there seems 

 to be a general migration of the weevil to new. fields. Prof. H. A. 

 Morgan, formerly Entomologist of Louisiana, informed us that within 

 three days at the time of this migration the weevils spread over a 

 strip of country from 15 to 30 miles wide in western Louisiana; but 

 this was practically all the spread that occurred during the season. 

 When thus migrating the weevils avoid the uplands where the cotton 

 is already mature and the plants dying, and they settle most readily 

 in the sheltered situations in the lowlands and along river valleys 

 where the cotton is still green. 



There is not much migration or spread of the weevil to new 

 localities in the summer season. 



How the Weevil Spreads. — As has been pointed out, the most com- 

 mon means of spreading is by ordinary flight at the migrating season 

 in late summer. At this time the insects may accidentally settle on 

 vehicles, in cars, or other articles for transportation and thus be car- 

 ried to new localities, but it is encouraging to learn that Professor 

 Morgan (working in Louisiana) was not able to locate a single in- 

 stance in which the weevil was being actually carried in this way. 

 At the migrating season he also had a number of assistants in the 

 field, who were instructed to sweep with insect nets all sorts of 

 vegetation along the roadsides with a view to seeing upon what other 

 plants the beetles might settle, but in no case was the insect found 



