THE BOLL WEEVIL PROBLEM, WITH SPECIAL REFER- 
ENCE TO MEANS OF REDUCING DAMAGE. 
INTRODUCTORY. 
ft 
This bulletin, dealing with work done under the direction of Dr. 
L. O. Howard, Chief of the Bureau of Entomology, is intended to 
cover in a general way the whole field of the control of the boll 
weevil. As this control is inseparably connected with the life his- 
tory and habits of the insect and, in fact, must be based thereon, at- 
tention is given to the principal features of the insect’s economy. In 
addition, information is given relating to the amount of damage 
done, the extent of the infested territory, and such other matters 
as are of special interest at this time. 
Like many of the most important injurious insects in this country, 
the cotton boll weevil is not a native of the United States. Its original 
home was undoubtedly in the plateau region of Mexico or Central 
America, and it may originally have fed upon some plant other 
than cotton. This is not necessarily the case, however, since there 
is evidence that the same region is the original home of the cotton 
plant itself. Previous to 1892 the insect had spread through Mexico, 
but little is known regarding the extent or rapidity of this disper- 
sion. The records indicate, however, that it had probably 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 a half dozen 
counties in southern Texas and was brought to the attention of the 
Bureau of Entomology. A preliminary examination, made under 
the direction of Dr. L. O. Howard by Mr. C. H. T. Townsend, 
showed the enormous capacity for damage of the pest. Subsequent 
events have verified in every way the predictions that were made at 
that time, when the insect had not attracted any considerable amount 
of attention in the South. Since 1894 the boll weevil has extended 
its range annually from 40 to 70 miles, although in two instances 
the winter conditions have been such as to cause a decrease in the 
infested area. During the first ten years after its advent into this 
country the annual rate of spread was 5,640 square miles. Since 
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