THE BOLL-WEEVIL PROBLEM. 
W. D. Hunter, Hntomologist in Charge, and B. R. Coap, Entomologist, 
Southern Field-Crop Insect Investigations. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. + , Es ta , a Page, 
A . an 5 aiatibns Tow nature assists in estroying the 
Origiu, spread, and present distribu 9 allt avepvile-2 Continued: 
EO EN SOE Sl aa ¥ Other factors in natural con- 
Damage__-_~---_--__--_--------- 4 trol ial 13 
Prospects in newly invaded territory_ 6 Rraniatiun seh makuselilecnbauttk. 14 
Work upon which this bulletin is Missemination os. seo n ee 14 
[Tasty La a ee 0 Witethods of controlel.2) S-s 15 
Description and life history of the Direct control by poisoning with ecal- 
Bolle Wweevile seams se lee hr Ne 7 Glu arsenatel— = es ae a ee, 16 
HTN VSy ae 1 Bt) eles coe eee ee SD 10 | Indirect means of control______*__ 18 
Ilow nature assists in destroying the Ineffective methods of control______ 25 
DOMME WEeV is =~ = 2 See EL Pee A 12 Effect of methods of control of the 
Bifecisuot, heat-set Ws S 12 boll weevil on the control of other 
IiMSecEparasites=== ===. saa. = 13 IMSeCrA ste ae teat ee 29 
Other insect enemies_______~._ 13 | Summary of control measures_____ 30 
ORIGIN, SPREAD, AND PRESENT DISTRIBUTION OF THE 
BOLL WEEVIL. 
HE COTTON BOLL WEEVIL? is not a native of the United 
States. Its first home was undoubtedly in the plateau region of 
Mexico or Central America. Previous to 1892 the insect had spread 
through much of Mexico, but little is known regarding the extent or 
rapidity of this dispersion. The records indicate, however, that it 
probably had caused the abandonment of cotton in certain regions. 
About 1892 the boll weevil crossed the Rio Grande near Brownsville, 
Tex. It may have flown across or it is possible that it was carried over 
in seed cotton to be ginned at Brownsville. By 1894 it had spread to 
half a dozen counties in southern Texas. A preliminary examina- 
tion, made during that season under the direction of Dr. L. O. 
Howard, Chief of the then Division of Entomology, by Mr. C. H. T. 
Townsend, showed the enormous capacity of the pest to do damage. 
Subsequent events have verified in every way the predictions that 
were made at that time, when the insect had not attracted much 
attention in the South. Since 1894 the boll weevil has extended its 
1This bulletin is a revision of Farmers’ Bulletin S848. 
2Anthonomus grandis Boh.; order Coleoptera, family Curculionidae. 
