The Boll-Weevil Problem. 9 
are not damaged to any serious extent. The bolls, therefore, have 
a fair chance to develop as long as squares are being formed. 
The cotton boll weevil, so far as known, breeds in no plants other 
than cotton and the wild cotton of Arizona. At the present time, 
at least, the insect is restricted to the cotton plant as a means of 
development. 
In laboratory experiments performed by the junior author, a weevil 
developed in the bud of a wild plant related to cotton. Under natural 
conditions it has not been found developing in that plant, but the 
experiments may indicate a tendency for the insect to acquire a new 
food plant. Adult boll weevils frequently have been found in okra 
> 
Fic. 4.—Weevil injury to cotton square. The square to the left has been punctured and 
shows typical “ flaring” of bracts, while the one to the right is uninjured. 
blooms, but repeated observations and experiments have failed to 
show that the weevil places its eggs in the pods or can develop in 
them. When confined in bottles, the adult weevil will feed on various 
substances, such as apples or bananas, but this is only under the stress 
of starvation. 
The chief activity of the boll weevil is from 9 o’clock in the morn- 
ing to 5 in the afternoon. It has been found in experiments per- 
formed in Louisiana that during this period of the day 65 per cent 
of the eggs are deposited. Eleven per cent of the eggs are deposited 
sarly in the morning—that is, from 5 o’clock to 9. There is some 
activity at night. Six per cent of the eggs are deposited between 8 
o’clock at night and 5 o’clock in the morning. 
79792 °—22—Bull. 1262 2 
