﻿UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



DEPARTMENT BULLETIN No. 1374 



Washington, D. C. 



March, 1926 



STUDIES OF THE PINK BOLLWORM IN MEXICO 



By W. Ohlendorf, Plant Quarantine Inspector, Federal Horticultural Board 



CONTENTS 



Inception and scope of the work 1 



Distribution of the pink boll worm 2 



Habits 3 



Damage causedby the pink bollworm 15 



Food plants- 28 



Page 



Dissemination by flight 29 



Natural control 31 



Repression - 37 



Summary 64 



INCEPTION AND SCOPE OF THE WORK i 



Since its introduction into Mexico in 1911 the pink bollworm ^ 

 has established itself firmly in the Laguna district and has made 

 its appearance in several less important cotton-growing sections 

 in Mexico, as well as at several points in the United States. The 

 United States Department of Agriculture began research work on 

 the pink bollworm in the Lagima district of Mexico in 1918. The 

 results of the work of 1918 and 1919 were reported by Loftin, Mc- 

 Kinney, and Hanson.^ After an interruption of one year the work 

 was resumed in March, 1921, at a new station at Tlahualilo, Durango, 

 Mexico, on a large cotton plantation.* 



In considering the results of the research work dealt with in this 

 report, it must be recalled that the climate in the Laguna district 

 (fig. Ij is very dry, the average annual rainfall being only about 8 



• This report is based on two years' work in the Laguna, conducted by the Federal Horticultural Board 

 under the authority given, in the appropriation for the eradication of the pink bollworm, to investigate 

 in Mexico or elsewhere the pink bollworm as a basis for control measures. This investigation has been 

 conducted under the general direction of the chairman of the board and W. D. Hunter, a member of the 

 board. In accordance with the policy established by this board with respect to any research work on 

 insect pests which it becomes necessary for the board to conduct, the results of this investigation are pre- 

 sented as a contribution through and in collaboration with the Bureau of Entomology. The field and 

 laboratory work has been under the charge of W. Ohlendorf, assisted at various times by the following 

 agents of the Federal Horticultural Board: F. F. Bibby, A. C. Johnson, C. R. Roitsch, R. B. Lattimore, 

 J. C. Woodward, \V. Ji. Sudduth, and D. M. McKachcrn. 



» Peclinonhora goHHypidla .Saunders. 



» U. C. Loftin, K. B. McKinney, and W. K. Hanson. Report on Investigations of the pink bollworm 

 of cotton in Mexico. U. S. Dcpt. Agr. Bui. 918, '14 pp., illus. 1U21. 



* Special thanks are due the Tlahualilo Agricultural & Colonization Company for extending all facili- 

 ties that could in any way assist in the research work. To the Tcstamentaria do Carlos Oonzalcs also 

 thanks are due for many courtesies extended in connection with numerous observations made in fields 

 on their properties, as well as to many other planters in the Laguna district who at all times willingly 

 cooperated in any investigations made in the district generally. Ttio ('omisioii Insjicctora do I'laga-s at 

 Torreon, charged with the enforcement of the rcKulmions of the Mexican Governnient relating to the 

 pink boilworrn, cooperated in a most satisfactory niuaner. This commission is under the direction of 

 Dr. R. Ramirez of Mexico City, with Juan Antuna in charge at Torreon. 



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