PREFACE. 



Until the advent of the Mexican cotton boll weevil the bollworm 

 was easily the most serious of the numerous insect pests of the cotton 

 plant. The coming of the weevil has in no way lessened the destruc- 

 tiveness of the bollworm, though its injuries have been overshadowed, 

 by the more serious depredations of the former species. 



The extent of bollworm ravages in recent 3^ears, notably in portions 

 of Texas, was the occasion of an investigation supplementary to those 

 previously made by the Bureau of Entomolog}^. Under the provision 

 of Congress for investigations concerning the cotton boll weevil, the 

 senior author was detailed to the bollworm work in Texas in March, 

 1903. Headquarters were established at Victoria, where office and 

 laboratory facilities were available in the building occupied b}" the 

 force engaged in boll weevil investigations. 



During that year special attention was given to field work, though 

 such laboratory investigations as were possible were conducted. The 

 principal results of field work in 1903 have been reported in Farmers' 

 Bulletin No. 191 of this Department. 



By reason of an increased appropriation the bollworm investigation 

 was considerabl}^ enlarged in 1904. Headquarters were established at 

 Paris, Tex., and a field laboratory was fitted up with necessary appa 

 ratus for thorough life-histor}^ studies. Field experiments were also 

 greatty extended, the area under experiment amounting to about 600 

 acres. Three additional entomologists were employed in the work, 

 and a fifth was engaged from July 1 to October 31. In addition to 

 the authors, these were Messrs. F. C. Bishopp, A. A. Girault, and 

 C. R. Jones. The senior author, under the direction of the Entomolo- 

 gist, has been directly in charge of the investigation in the laboratory 

 and field. Laboratory details were supervised by the junior author, 

 assisted by Mr. Girault. Messrs. Bishopp and Jones were occupied 

 in making field observations and with work connected with the several 

 experimental farms. Original observations by these gentlemen are 

 credited to them in the pages of this bulletin. 



Thanks are due many citizens of Texas and of other States, both 

 planters and business men, for courtesies extended during the course 



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