THE BOLL WEEVIL — LOFTIN 277 



Early investigations showed that the crude insecticides and methods 

 of application then available would not control the boll weevil and 

 that earliness of maturity offered the best hope of evading damage by 

 producing a crop of cotton before the weevils became abundant late 

 in the season. Special attention was devoted to improving cultural 

 practices and varieties of cotton. Changes along these lines were based 

 on sound agronomic principles and are now generally used by grow- 

 ers, often without the conscious realization of their value in weevil 

 control. After 20 years of continuous effort, an effective insecticidal 

 control was developed and by the combined use of these direct and 

 indirect methods of control every grower can prevent excessive weevil 

 losses. Numerous mechanical devices, concoctions, and secret reme- 

 dies have been proposed by people from all walks of life, many of 

 whom had never seen a boll weevil, and growers spent millions of 

 dollars on these worthless methods. The State of Texas offered a 

 $50,000 prize for an efficient remedy for the boll weevil and a great 

 deal of time was spent by research workers testing the numerous com- 

 pounds offered without finding any of real value. The numerous 

 "boll-weevil conventions" held throughout the south are another 

 unique chapter in boll-weevil history. 



The boll weevil during the past 50 years has affected the agriculture 

 and economics of the South in so many ways that only a few phases 

 can be discussed. Among other things, the boll weevil helped in the 

 diversification of crops and production of livestock. So despite the 

 hardships caused by the boll weevil and the toll still taken from the 

 cotton growers, some benefits have occurred, and in recognition of 

 this fact the citizens of Coffee County, Ala., erected a monument on 

 the town square of Enterprise, "In profound appreciation of the boll 

 weevil and what it has done as the herald of prosperity" (pi. 1, fig. 2) . 



The literature on the boll weevil has become voluminous. Some of 

 the early publications of the United States Department of Agriculture 

 were in Spanish, German and French for the different nationalities 

 of American cotton growers. The many bulletins, circulars, and 

 posters of the Department of Agriculture, State experiment stations, 

 and extension services of the infested States and the innumerable 

 articles and cartoons in newspapers have made the boll weevil one of 

 the most publicized insects. The contributions to the development and 

 use of control methods for the boll weevil by many State and Federal 

 entomologists, agronomists, cotton breeders, extension workers, and 

 others provide an excellent example of the value of cooperative and 

 continued research on a complex problem. 



LIFE HISTORY OF THE WEEVIL AND NATURE OF ITS DAMAGE 



The cotton square or unopened floral bud is the principal food of 

 both adults and larvae of the boll weevil, though bolls are also severely 



