SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS. 99 



most effective method yet found for reducing the number of weevils 

 that may survive the winter to attack the crop of the following sea- 

 son. This portion of the bulletin, especially, should be carefully 

 studied in detail. 



The survival in the various sections of the cages in the three locali- 

 ties ranged from 1.89 to 31.34 per cent. The average survival in 

 each of the localities was as follows: Calvert, 9.49 per cent; Dallas, 

 11.22 per cent; Victoria, 13.47 per cent. 



At Dallas the largest percentage of survival occurred in a section 

 of the cage having an abundance of fallen leaves, in which the weevils 

 were placed on November 1 5 and with the cotton stalks left standing. 

 The smallest survival occurred in a section having fully as favorable 

 shelter conditions but in which the weevils were placed on October 13 

 and left without any food from October 15. 



At Victoria the largest survival occurred among weevils started on 

 November 6 without food in the section provided with Spanish moss 

 and bark. 



The winter was too mild to furnish any comparative test of the 

 favorableness of various shelter conditions, but in general it appears 

 that fallen leaves, Spanish moss, and a heavy growth of grass are 

 most favorable to the weevils wherever they may occur. 



Temperature conditions were practically normal during November, 

 1906, and the most favorable time for entrance into hibernation was 

 between November 12 and 15 at Dallas and slighth^ later at the 

 more southern points. 



In each locality the maximum longevity was shown by males, and 

 the average duration of life of that sex was also slightly in excess of 

 that of females. The average survival of all weevils kept without 

 food was about ten days, and a considerable number lived to between 

 six and twelve weeks after emergence. The maximum survival for 

 any unfed weevil was ninety days. Obviously there is no chance to 

 starve out all weevils b}^ any possible delay in planting. 



Among the fed weevils the longest-lived was also a male which 

 was active for one hundred and thirty days after its emergence. 

 The longest-lived female was active for one hundred and eighteen 

 days. The average active life for all fed weevils was 25.5 days after 

 emergence. Practically one-half of all fed weevils lived for more 

 than six weeks in the spring. 



The sex was determined for more than 8,500 weevils which had 

 survived the winter, and it was found that 56.7 per cent of these were 

 males. There is an invariable preponderance of males both in the 

 fall upon entering hibernation and in the spring upon emergence 

 therefrom. 



Reproduction can not begin until the first squares become at least 

 half grown. At whatever date cotton may be planted in a locality, 



