INSECTS INJURIOUS TO COTTON 



247 



which stage lasts from three to five days. Thus from egg to 



adult requires from two to three weeks, though climatic conditions 



cause considerable variation in the length of time. The larva is a 



footless, white grub, with 



brown head, which lies curled 



up in the square as shown 



in Fig. 211, where the soft 



white pupa is also found. 



The adult weevils feed en- 



tirely during the day. Their 



length of life depends upon 



various conditions, but in 



the summer season the maj- 



ority do not live over sixty FIG. 211. The cotton boll weevil, larva and 



, ., , . ,, , pupa enlarged. 



days, while during the cooler 



part of the year those which hibernate live five or six months. 



Many squares are destroyed by the feeding punctures of the 



weevils. "The males feed upon the squares and bolls without 



i ^ moving until the food begins 



to deteriorate. The females 

 refr&in from ovipositing in 

 squares visited by other fe- 

 males. This applies through- 

 s out most of the season, but 

 late in the fall, when all the 

 . fruit has become infested, 

 several eggs may be placed in 

 a single square or boll. As 

 many as fifteen larvae have 

 been found in a boll. The 

 squares are greatly preferred 

 as food and as p 1 a c e s f or de- 

 positing eggs. As long as a 

 supply of squares is present 

 the bolls are not damaged to 

 any serious extent. The bolls, 

 therefore, have a fair chance 



to 



enlarged. 



are being formed. When- 



