)3 



when shed from such causes they show no signs of weevil 

 or other insect injury such as have been described. 



KECOGNITION OF THE WEEVIL. 



We may summarize briefly the most important character- 

 istics upon which we may depend for the prompt recogni- 

 tion of the weevils' presence in Alabama : 



1. The adult beetles (PI. I, figs. 1 and 2) probably found 

 on cotton only, are about 1— t inch long, with slender, 

 slightly curved snouts, of dark brown, ashy-gray, or yel- 

 lowish brown color. 



2. The crescentic grubs (PI. I, fig. 6) about 3-8 inch 

 long and the pupal stages (PI. T, figs. 7 and 8) occur only 

 in squares and in bolls. This is the only insect which 

 breeds in this wav in cotton. 



3. The occurrence of open cavities 1-16 to 1-20 inch in 

 diameter and reaching down to larger excavations among 

 the pollen sacs, the presence of "warts" marking the "egg 

 punctures of the weevil, the occurrence of the orange-color- 

 ed excrement on the buds, the abundant shedding of squares 

 and the consequent scarcity of blooms without accompanying 

 rain or cultural conditions to cause the shedding; these are 

 among the most conspicuous signs of boll weevil presence 

 and injury. 



Whenever any specimens of ^veevil or cot- 

 ton squares or bolls showing weevil stages or 

 the signs of their work are discovered any- 

 w^here in Alabama in advance of the general 

 infestation by the weevil, it is of the utmost 

 importance that they be immediately submit- 

 ted to the Entomologist, Auburn, for positive 

 identification. We must depend upon the 

 hearty co-operation of cotton planters in this 

 w^ork, as upon the promptness with which the 

 first occurrence of the weevil in a locality is 

 discovered and reported to the Entomologist 



