89 



is of Iiighest importance that we be able to defiuitel}' es- 

 tablish the limits of infestation and determine just where 

 the application of the quarantine will do good instead of 

 harm. Obviously no restriction of personal or commercial 

 movement is justifiable or desirable if no protection or ben- 

 efit ma}' result. We therefore urge upon all concerns or in- 

 dividuals to whom the provisions of this quarantine may 

 apply that they continue to give it their cheerful and com- 

 plete support so long as may be necessary. More detailed 

 information will be furnished all who may request it upon 

 any specific points by the "Entomologist to the Experiment 

 Station, Auburn, Ala." 



DESCEIFTIOX OF THE BOLL WEEVIL. 



It is of extreme importance that we learn of the presence 

 of the weevil anywhere in the state as quickly as possible af- 

 ter its arrival. For information on this point we must 

 necessarily depend principally upon the reports of cotton 

 planters and others directly interested in this subject. As 

 a rule we cannot depend for this information upon news- 

 paper reports, even when these are vouched for by some 

 planter who "came from the boll weevil country". With 

 the boll weevil, as with most other insects, the ordinary cas- 

 ual observer fails to notice any but the most obvious charac- 

 ters on account of their small size. Therefore the char- 

 acters noted are more than likely to be only those which" are 

 common to a group including hundreds of closely related 

 species rather than those distinctive of a single species. By 

 careful attention to the following brief description and to 

 the illustrations given herewith we believe that the reader of 

 average intelligence may be able to distinguish the boll wee- 

 vil from the numerous other insects occurring on cotton, 

 which are often mistaken for it (see appendix) and to rec- 

 ognize its attack on the plant with a reasonable degree of 

 certainty. In any case of doubt specimens should be sent 

 immediately in a strong, tight, tin or wooden box, with a 

 letter of explanation to the Entomologist, Alabama Experi- 

 ment Station, Auburn, Ala. He will gladly determine 



