99 



EFFECT OF WET WINTER WEATHER ON HIBERNATING WEEVILS. 



Owinj:? to the writers' absence from Victoria during the winter 

 months, observations could not be made directly or immediatel}' uj^on 

 this point. It Avas found, liowever, that all weevils in hibernation 

 tests which j)assed the winter successfully had been kept dry. The 

 winter of 1902-3 was unusually wet at Victoria, and the number of 

 hibernated^weevils which were to be found on early cotton plants was 

 noticeably less than during previous seasons which had been dry. It 

 seems probable, therefore, that as many weevils perish from f reciuent 

 wetting as from exposure to the cold. 



EFFECTS OF OVERFLOWS IN FIELDS. 



Unusually favorable conditions for these observations were obtained 

 at Victoria in the season of 1903. During the latter part of Februarj^ 

 an overflow of the Guadalupe River covered many of the cotton fields 

 along its course. The fields in which esj)ecial stud}' was nuide were 

 wholly submerged from one to several daj's. Cotton was planted in 

 some of these fields between March 15 and 17. Owing to cold 

 weather the growth of tlio plants was delayed and squaring did not 

 begin until betM^een May 10 and 17. Immediately after this date it 

 was found that weevils Avere present and at work, and fallen squares 

 Avere first found about May 23. From a study of this field it became 

 apparent that the overflow had caused a considerably less decrease 

 tlian had been anticipated in the number of hibernating weevils. 

 Possibly the fact that the winter of 1902-3 had been exceptionally 

 rainy may account for the lack of contrast in weevil abundance in 

 overflowed fields and those which did not suftVr in this Avay since, as 

 has already been noted, hibernated weevils were unusually scarce, 

 even on uj)lands. 



Another period of high water occurred during the last of June and 

 the first of July and gave a convenient opportunitj^ to note its effect 

 upon active Aveevils. Many fields were partially and some wholly 

 submerged. ' This condition lasted for several days. Examination 

 made after the recession of the water shoAved that many fallen 

 squares Avhich had certainly been in the Avater for some time con- 

 tained uninjured larvae and pupa?. Naturally eggs and larA^SB 

 found in squares upon the plants, even though under water for some 

 time, escaped unharmed. Weevils were AA^orking normally upon the 

 plants. No diminution in their numbers could be seen and it was 

 ajiparent that the oA^erfioAv caused no check either to the develop- 

 ment of the immature stages or to the actiAdty of the adults. These 

 observations emphasize the fact that the weevil can not be drowned 

 out. 



