SHELTEK DURING HIBERNATION. 31 



One fact should be emphasized in regard to practically all classes 

 of shelter which have been mentioned as occiu-ring within cotton 

 fields, i. e., that it is possible as a rule to destroy or remove practi- 

 cally all of them. Undoubtedly the burning of cotton stalks, weeds, 

 grass, and other rubbish is the easiest and most effective method of 

 destruction where it can be practiced. Next to this in importance 

 would be the destruction of the stalks by a stalk chopper and plowing 

 under all the rubbish. In the latter case it must be stated that 

 many weevils which may be bm"ied to an average depth of 2 inches 

 will be able to escape through the soil and may then find shelter 

 around, if not within, the field. 



HIBERNATION SHELTEK OUTSIDE OF COTTON FIELDS. 



Unquestionably timber fringes skirting cotton fields are exceed- 

 ingly important because of the shelter which the fallen leaves and 

 undergrowth provide for weevils during the winter. The conditions 

 to be found here are so exceedingly favorable that a majority of 

 planters seem to recognize that the most severe infestation of young 

 cotton in the spring may be expected to occur neaT such timber. 

 Where the moss (PI. II, fig. 1) occurs abundantly it is second only 

 in importance to the fallen leaves as a shelter for weevils. The fact 

 that weevils have been taken early in the spring upon trees at a dis- 

 tance as great as 2 miles from a cotton field shows the extent to 

 which they may possibly scatter during the fall or seek for cotton 

 during the spring. The planter need not, however, be alarmed by 

 these facts, inasmuch as it is certain that but few weevils hiber- 

 nating away from the immediate vicinity of cotton fields will sur- 

 vive to find food supply upon emergence. 



Cornfields adjoining cotton or cornstalks scattered throughout 

 cotton fields may shelter many weevils. This was first noticed by 

 Mr. E. A. Schwarz at Victoria in the winter of 1901-2 and has since 

 been corroborated by a number of observers. Several examina- 

 tions have been made of haystacks in the vicinity of cotton. This 

 is a task quite comparable with that of seeking for the proverbial 

 needle and it is not surprising that the residts have been very meager. 

 The fact, however, that traces of weevils have been found in these 

 examinations indicates that weevils may find shelter under such 

 conditions. 



Farmyards, seed houses, barns, ginneries, and oil mills also afford 

 exceptionally favorable shelter for weevils. Especially in ginneries 

 and seed houses (PL III, fig. 1) the weevils become concentrated 

 with the concentration of the cotton or seed and frequently may be 

 found in large numbers within or around these buildings. In con- 

 nection with this subject the reader is referred to a fuller discus- 



