NATURAL HISTdKV AND IIAIUTS. 



The natural history of the Mexican cott()n-1)oll weevil is as yet imperfectly known 

 but so far as can now be, judged, it is as follows: 



When the insects first appear the eggs are deposited in the squares and bolls, aiu\ 

 the larvai hatch and feed on the interior substance of the buds and bolls. The 

 larva; sometimes feed on the in- 

 terior of the seed, leaving only 

 the shell, but usually eat seed or 

 libei indifferently. The larva 

 gradually reaches full growth, 

 having by this time formed a cell 

 of sufficient size to accommodate 

 itself, and in this it i>upates. 

 The cell is usually formed next 

 the outer wall or pericarp of the 

 boll, so that the weevil, when 

 transformed, has only to make its 

 way through th is wall to escape. 

 In issuing, it thus leaves a small 

 hole in the pericarp, which 

 marks the cell in the infested 

 lock of the boll. As many as 

 eleven larvse have been found iu 

 one boll. 



Judging from the habits of the 

 allied species, Anlhonomus suj- 

 natus, and allowing for differ- 

 ences in size and climatic con- 

 ditions, the duration of the life- 

 cycle is probably about thirty 

 days. 



In the newly infested region 

 in Texas, the weevils were first 

 noticed iu the cotton fields from 

 about the middle of August to 

 the last of Sei)tember; in the 



newly infested region of Coahuila, a month earlier; in the older infested regions of 

 Texas (Brownsville) and Coahuila (Ilermanas), asearly as May to June. Approximate 

 dates of their first appearance iu newly infested regions have been received as 

 follows: Corpus Christi (Nueces region), middle of August; Beeville, last of August 

 and first of September; San Diego, first of September. 



Nothing is known positively concerning the jiumber of annual broods, but there 

 were probably two broods in the newly infested region, and in the older districts, 

 where the weevils appear in May and June, there must be four or more broods 

 annually. 



At San Juan Allende, Coahuila, two very small larva' were fouii<l in buds, Novem- 

 ber 23, and at Alice, Tex., another was found iu a green bud, December 12. This 

 seems to indicate a very late brood if, indeed, the broods are at all regular. Egg 

 laying probably goes on at all tiuu^s, so that the broods are more or less irregular. 



Food plaiiiH and habits offteding of the adult.— The only food plant so far as known 

 is cotton. The adults seem to feed both on the buds and bolls, and throughout the 

 season as long as the weather is warm. By means of the small jaws at the end of its 

 beak, the weevil eats through the skin of the bud or boll, making a small hole therein. 

 Specimens were found as late as December 10, 36 miles north of Brownsville, with 

 their beaks sunk to full length in half-grown green bolls, apparently feeding on the 

 juices within. 



'jV 



Fig. 3. — Glassy-winged sharpshooter: a, iidult $ seen from 

 above; 6, same, side view; c, venation of forewiii^i — enlarfred; 

 d, antenna'; c, section of hind tibia:/. J ueu it alia— more 

 enlarged; g. serrations I'f ovipositor — still more enlarged. 



