SEASONAL HISTORY. 61 



weevils at Victoria, Tex., in 1902 and 1903, laying an average of 119 

 eggs in an average period of 46 days, and at the rate of 2.6 eggs 

 per day, with a maximum of 18 eggs in one day; while at Tallulah, 

 La., in 1910, 13 weevils laid an average of 209 eggs in an average 

 period of 37 days and at the rate of 5.7 eggs per day, with a maxi- 

 mum of 20 eggs in one day. While these facts appear to indicate 

 that the fecundity of the weevil is not decreasing, they do not, on 

 the other hand, because of the great difference in the places of 

 observations, prove an increase. More detailed data will be obtained 

 on this point in the future. 



PERIOD OF OVIPOSITION. 



With the exception of hibernated weevils it appears that ovipo- 

 sition begins with the majority of females in about seven days after 

 they emerge as adults to feed and continues uninterruptedly until 

 shortly before death. In the case of 43 weevils observed at Tallulah, 

 La., in 1910, the average preoviposition period was 7.72 days, the 

 minimum 5, and the maximum 23 days. While females fre- 

 quently deposit their last eggs during the last day of their life, a 

 period of a few days usually intervenes between the cessation of 

 oviposition and death. 



The known maximum number of eggs laid by a single individual 

 is 304. This was in the case of a weevil which lived for 275 days 

 and deposited eggs at the rate of 7.6 eggs per day for 41 days. The 

 maximum period of oviposition recorded is 135 days. In the case 

 of 52 hibernated weevils at Victoria the period of oviposition averaged 

 about 48 days, the maximum being fully 92 days. In an average 

 rate with 21 females in the first generation the actual period was 

 almost 75 days, the maximum being 113 days. The average period 

 for the females of the first two generations appears to be longer than 

 that for any other. In the third generation the average period for 

 11 females was 58 days, the maximum being 99 days, and in the 

 fifth generation for 5 females the period averaged 48 days, with the 

 maximum only 62 days. At Tallulah, La., m 1910, the average 

 oviposition period was found to be 34.44 days. The average period 

 for all of the records available is but 31 days. 



The approach of cold weather cuts short the activity of the weevils 

 which become adult after the middle of August, thereby decreasing 

 the length of their oviposition period. Weevils which pass through 

 the winter usually live longest, but as it requires more or less vitality 

 to pass through the long hibernation period, their activity in the 

 spring is thereby lessened. 



EFFECTS OF OVIPOSITION UPON SQUARES. 



As has been explained elsewhere, the attack of the weevil on the 

 square causes it to form an absciss layer, which ultimately causes it 

 to separate entirely from the plant. One of the immediate effects of 

 attack is the flaring of the square, that is, the spreading of the bracts 

 and their subsequent yellowing and drying. (See PI. I.) Flaring 

 may result from many other causes besides boll-weevil injury. When 

 resulting from weevil injury it does not begin, as a rule, immediately 

 after the injury, but only within from one to three days of the time 



