89 



a wart formation, but its real nature is very different. In many cases 

 the gelatinized condition appears to have caused the death of the 

 young larvse, either by the pressure or by the abnormal condition of 

 the food supply. In a large number of cases, however, this condition 

 undoubtedly results from what were feeding injuries only. 



EFFECTS OF OVIPOSITION UPON SQUARES. 



The method of recording the progress of injur}^ to each square, as 

 was done in the field cages, has furnished much data upon a number" 

 of important points. Among these the two of most importance are, 

 in order of their occurrence, the flaring and the falling of the square. 



The flaring of squares (PI. XY, fig. 67) is one of the most apparent 

 signs of weevil presence, although by no means an invariable accom- 

 paniment, as it is usually thought to be. Squares flare in nearl}^ as 

 large a proportion of cases from adult feeding injury alone as from 

 larval injur}^ within. Any injury severe enough to cause the falling 

 of the square is as liable to cause flaring as is the larva of the weevil. 

 Flaring results from an unhealthy condition, v/hatever may be the 

 cause, and is frequently to be seen in squares which are about to be 

 shed, though they have never been injured by any insect. However, 

 flaring has come to be popularly associated with weevil injury, and 

 must therefore be quite fully considered. 



When resulting from weevil injury, flaring does not begin, as a rule, 

 immediately after the injury, but only within from one to three da3^s 

 of the time when the square will be ready to fall. In especially 

 severe cases of feeding injury, flaring often results in less than twent}^- 

 four hours. Occasionally the growth of the square overcomes the 

 injury from feeding and the involucre, after having flared, again 

 closes up and the square continues its normal development as though 

 uninjured, and forms a perfect boll. More f requentl}^ the flared square 

 gradually loses its healthy green, becoming a sickly j^ellow in color, 

 and falls in a short time. 



When injured by the feeding of a young larva as the direct result 

 of successful oviposition, flaring has been found in an average of 139 

 cases to take place in almost exactly 7 days from the deposition of 

 the egg. These observations cover the season from June to Septem- 

 ber, when the developmental period averages about 19 days. Fully 

 one-third of the weevil's full development has, therefore, taken place 

 before flaring results. A considerable proportion of injured squares 

 fall without an}^ distinct flaring of the involucre having taken place. 



Squares injured by larval feeding within always fall, except the 

 small percentage which, though entirely cut off from all vital connec- 



