INSECTS AND BIRDS. 



277 



as the remainder of the body. The color of the adult 

 weevil is somewhat variable, the usual color being a 

 dark grayish brown. 



How the Cotton is Injured. The boll weevil in- 

 jures the cotton in two ways : by feeding in the squares 

 and small bolls, and by depositing eggs in them. The 

 weevil does not chew up the leaves or buds, for it is not 

 a " biting insect." When the weevil wishes food, it 

 thrusts its long beak into a fresh square until it reaches 

 the soft, juicy pollen on the inside. On this it feeds, 

 eating all it can reach. The square which is injured 

 in this way cannot become a blossom, for a few days 

 after the weevil has fed in it, it wilts and falls to the 

 ground. 



How the Egg is Laid. The boll weevil picks out a 

 green square, and with the beak makes a deep hole in 

 it. Then she deposits the small white egg in the open- 

 ing, pushes it down into the square with her beak, and 

 then plasters over the opening with a sticky substance. 

 The cotton .plant tries to repair the damage by causing 

 a scar, or " wart," to grow over the opening. Instead 

 of healing the wound, however, this wart merely serves 

 to protect the egg, for it keeps out other insects that 

 might get into the square and destroy the egg. 



Number of Eggs Laid. Each mother boll weevil 



BOLL WEEVIL LARVA AND PUP.*:. 



