40 PAPEES ON THE COTTON BOLL WEEVIL, ETC. 



that the parasites of Anthono7nus signatus might attack Anthonom.us 

 xneotinctus if the strawberry and pepper were grown side by side. 

 The former weevil has long been established and has numerous para- 

 sites. The latter has not been here long and has not extended its foot- 

 hold greatly, neither has it many parasites. Both of these species are 

 small, and perhaps not likely to yield parasites which would attack 

 larger species. 



Of the large species equaling the boll weevil in size some maj'', 

 perhaps, yield favorable results. AntJionomus fulvus Lee. gives prom- 

 ise in one way because it breeds in the buds of Callirrhoe involucrata^ 

 a mallow closely related to cotton. But this plant ceases flowering 

 early in July, which would make transfer of parasites difficult. 

 The biology of this species is extremely like that of the boll weevil, 

 and it would appear to be easier for parasites to change from it to its 

 more injurious relative than from the two species mentioned before.* 

 Anthonomus squamosus Lee, which breeds along the western edge of 

 the cotton belt in the flowers of Grindelia sqitarrosa nuda^ is much 

 more abundantly parasitized than A. fulvus has proven to be. Its 

 food plant has a long season, so that several generations are produced. 

 Both of these species seal the ^gg puncture and pupate in a cell 

 formed by the larval excrement, just as does the boll weevil. Both 

 are parasitized likewise by Bracon mellitor Sa}^, a parasite of Antho- 

 nomus grandis. Eurytoma tylodermatis Ashm. , listed as a parasite of 

 AntKonomns grandis^ is a primary parasite of Lixus musculus Sa}^ 

 and probably also of Antlionoinus squamosus. Another species of 

 Eurytoma was definitel}^ bred from A. squamosus. Anthonomus scii- 

 tellaris Lee. is known to breed in wild plums in Texas. Desmoris 

 scapalis Lee. , a weevil very similar in habits to the boll weevil, breeds 

 in the flower heads of Sideranthus rubiginosus., thus resembling A. 

 squamosus^ but differing from the Anthonomi mentioned, in that it 

 undoubtedly pupates in the ground. This species is very abundant in 

 the heart of the weevil-infested area of the cotton belt and occurs 

 thruout a considerable part of the summer. Moreover, it is often 

 parasitized. 



Of the smaller species those to be noticed are not smaller than the 

 smallest of A. grandis and A. squamosus. Anthonomus disjunctus Lee. , 

 like the latter, breeds in the flower heads of Heterotheca suhaxillaris^ a 

 common composite thruout central Texas. It is very numerous and 

 considerably parasitized. Anthonomus mneolus Dietz breeds abun- 

 dantl}^ in the buds of Solanum rostratum., which occurs thruout Texas. 

 Catolaccus incertus has been bred as a parasite. 



The nature of the problem being thus set forth, it will be readily 

 understood that the primary requisite is a knowledge of the breeding 

 habits of as many species of weevils as possible. 



