316 INJURIOUS INSECTS, WITH TREATMENT 



Preventives. Plant as early as possible, and still avoid a "set 

 back " to the crop. 



For insects infesting stored corn, see under FUMIGATION, p. 287. 



Cotton. BOLLWORM (Heliothis obsoletd). This insect is also known 



as the corn earworm and tomato fruit-worm. The caterpillars 



are over an inch in length, and vary in color from greenish to 



dark brown. 



Preventives. Produce an early crop of cotton by planting 

 early varieties, heavy fertilizing, early and frequent cultivation. 

 Practice fall plowing, to destroy as many hibernating pupse as 

 possible. Use corn as a trap crop. Plant it in strips across the 

 field and time it so that the crop will be in silk and tassel about 

 August 1. In areas infested by the boll weevil follow the recom- 

 mendations given below. (Bureau of Entomology, U. S. Dept. 

 Agric.) 



MEXICAN BOLL-WEEVIL (Anthonomus grandis}. A snout beetle 

 about one-fourth inch in length, which lays its eggs in the squares 

 and bolls, producing a grub which eats out the contents. 



Treatment (U. S. Dept. Agric.) : 



1. Destroy the vast majority of weevils in the fall by up- 

 rooting and burning the plants. This is the all-important step. 

 It results in the death of millions of weevils. It insures a crop 

 for the following season. 



2. Destroy also many weevils that have survived the pre- 

 ceding operation and are found in the cotton-fields and along the 

 hedgerows, fences, and buildings. This is done by clearing the 

 places referred to thoroughly. 



3. As far as possible, locate the fields in situations where 

 damage will be avoided. This cannot be done in all cases, but 

 can frequently be done to good advantage. 



4. Prepare the land early and thoroughly in order to obtain an 

 early crop. This means fall plowing and winter working of the 

 land. 



5. Provide wide rows, and plenty of space between the rows 

 and the plants in the drill, for the assistance of the natural enemies 

 of the weevil, which do more against the pest than the farmer can 

 do himself by any known means. Check-rowing, wherever prac- 

 ticable, is an excellent practice. 



