SEASONAL HISTORY. 



47 



so lettered and numbered that each square could be exactly located. 

 Weevils were then placed so that they could take their choice of 

 these squares, and observations from 8 a. m. to 6 p. m. were made 

 upon the location and activity of the weevils. Though this experi- 

 ment was repeated four times no positive evidence was obtained to 

 show that weevils had any choice as to which kind of squares they 

 fed upon. Table XII presents a summary of these results. 



Table XII. — Rearing-cage observations upon boll weevil choice of American and Egyptian 



squares. 



In experiments 1 and 2 the American squares were attacked more 

 extensively than were the Egyptian, while in experiments 3 and 5 

 greater injury was done to the Egyptian. In experiment 4 the smaller 

 number of egg and feeding punctures made in the Egyptian squares is 

 counterbalanced by the larger number of squares attacked. Although 

 the totals from these five tests show slightly less injury to the Egyp- 

 tian than to the American squares, it could hardly be expected that 

 two arbitrarily chosen series, even if of the same variety, would show 

 any closer agreement in the points of comparison made in this table 

 than is therein shown by the American and Egyptian squares. 



Field examinations made in Cuba and Mexico on the native varie- 

 ties of cotton showed them to be as susceptible to serious weevil 

 injury as are the cultivated cottons. In some localities in Central 

 America the dwarf character of the cotton grown, the very open 

 method of cultivation, and certain protective adaptations on the part 

 of the plants result in the production of fair crops, though the varieties 

 of cotton grown are by no means immune to weevil attack. 



DURATION OF LIFE OF ADLILT WEEVILS. 



The subject of longevity is one which naturally divides itself into 

 several headings. Many factors must be considered, among which 

 are the nature of the food supply, seasonal conditions, the sex of the 

 individual, and the time of entrance into and emergence from hiber- 

 nation. 



The maximum record of longevity of any boll weevil is that of a 

 hibernated weevil at Tallulah, La. (1910), which was fed squares 

 after emergence and lived a total of over 335 days. The maximum 

 recorded period of hibernation without food is 240 days, and the maxi- 

 mum recorded length of life of hibernated weevils provided with food 



