August, '08] JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 237 



of its value and a correct interpretation of the results observed. Three 

 localities, Dallas, Calvert and Victoria. Texas, were selected for ex- 

 perimental work, as these represented in a general way the northern, 

 central and southern sections of the state, and considerable work of a 

 similar nature had been done at each place which might serve as a 

 check or for comparison. At each place was erected a cage 20 x 50 

 feet and 6I/2 f^^t high, covered with 14-mesh. galvanized wire screen- 

 ing and having cross-partitions so as to form ten sections, each having 

 a ground area of 100 square feet. The three localities offered a con- 

 siderable range in geographical and climatic conditions. It was 

 planned to provide similar shelter conditions in corresponding sec- 

 tions and to enclose weevils in each section upon as nearly the same 

 date in each locality as might be possible. The weevils used were col- 

 lected in the immediate locality and from 1,000 to 4,000 were placed 

 in each section, making a total of over 75,000 in the three cages. 

 Observations were made at intervals, from the time weevils were placed 

 in the cage until the beginning of the general emergence movement in 

 the spring, and daily thereafter. Suitable and reliable data as to 

 climatic conditions were secured by providing standard types of 

 weather bureau instruments in a shelter erected beside the cage in 

 each locality. Temperature, rainfall, humidity and other records 

 were thus kept throughout the period covered by the experiments. 

 In this way it was anticipated that data might be obtained bearing 

 especially upon the following points : 



1. The effect of the time of entrance into hibernation upon the 

 survival of w^eevils. In the first experiments either entrance upon 

 hibernation or starvation was forced by the destruction of the food 

 supply. The geographical range M'ould naturally increase the inter- 

 val between the beginning of the experiment and the lime when 

 weevils would naturally enter hibernation at each locality. 



2. The effect which the complete destruction of the food supply 

 at varying dates might have upon the success of hibernation. For 

 these experiments the shelter conditions were made as uniform and 

 as favorable as it was possible to make them in the different localities. 

 It was hoped by these tests to determine the minimum interval which 

 must elapse between the destruction of food and the successful hiber- 

 nation of the weevils. 



3. To determine the effect of exceptionally favoi'able and unfavor- 

 able conditions of shelter upon the successful hibernation of weevils 

 placed in the corresponding sections upon the same date in each lo- 

 cality. It was intended that the shelter conditions provided slumld 

 be so exaggerated as to represent the extremes of conditions which 

 might naturally occur in or around the fields. 



