29 



Hymenopteroiis insects are very numerous and many are undoubt- 

 edly valuable in destroying- lepidopterous larva'. Thus far, however, 

 only one Hymenopter {Atta iiisidar'tx Guer. ) has been studied. These 

 ants are polymorphic leaf-cutters which construct large luiderground 

 chaml)ers and galleries. They are very destructive and cut great 

 quantities of leaves which they carry into their galleries and use for 

 cultivating fungus gardens. These galleries extend from A to 8 feet 

 nnderground and freqiiently cover large areas. 



The Coccidie are very numerous, but are well parasitized both by 

 hymenopterous insects and l)y fungi. For this reason they are not 

 of such great economic importance as in the United States. 



Coleopterous insects are very numerous and frequently very in- 

 jurious in orange groves. The cotton boll weevil [Anthononuts 

 grundi.s Boh.) is very abundant. 



Gail-producing insects are very abundant. At the ])resent time 

 the writer is inclined to consider the Phytoptus galls the most abun- 

 dant. A Coccid gall was found on the twigs of the fig and the native 

 anon as. 



SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE COTTON BOLL WEEVIL. 



By E. DwiGHT Sanderson. Durham, N. H. 



In the following ])a])er the writer Avislies to give but a brief sum- 

 mary of the more important conclusions resulting from two years' 

 study of the cotton boll weevil and its relation to cotton production 

 in Texas. 



Inasmuch as the most inq:)ortant means of control have to do Avith 

 the hibernating weevils, and as the mortality of those hibernating 

 and the time of their emergence in the spring is a most important 

 factor in the injury during the subsequent season, we have given con- 

 siderable attention to all phenomena connected with their hibernation. 



Messrs. Hunter and Hinds have stated that the Aveevils enter hiber- 

 nation Avhen the mean average temperature falls to l^etween 55° and 

 60° F. Our observations entirely corroborate this rule. By confining 

 several hundred weevils in cages once a week after October 1 we 

 ascertained that in 1008 none hibernated until about November 18, 

 when there was a freeze; and about that time the mean average 

 temperature dropped below (>0°. Furthei-more, those confined some 

 time before this died l)efore hibernating, almost without exception, 

 showing that they can not be forced into hibernation ; that the time of 

 hibernating depends on the average temperature; and that by de- 

 priving the weevils of all food early in the fall they can be starved 

 to death in larae numbers. 



