V. S. D. A., B. E. Bui. 63, Part VI. C. B. W. I., January 22, 1907. 



PAPERS ON THE COTTON BOLL WEEVIL AND 

 RELATED AND ASSOCIATED INSECTS.' 



THE STRAWBERRY WEEVIL IN THE SOUTH-CENTRAL STATES 



IN 1905. 



{Anthonomus signatus Say. ) 



By A. W. MoREiLL, 

 Special Field Agent. 



For some time the Bureau of Entomology has been experimenting 

 along the line of inducing parasites of related native species of 

 weevils to prey upon the cotton boll weevil {Anthonomus grandis 

 Boh.). One of the commonest and most parasitized of such weevils is 

 the strawberry weevil {Anthonomus signatus Say). It was conse- 

 quently important to ascertain whether this insect occurred in or near 

 the infested regions of Texas and Louisiana and to what extent it was 

 controlled by parasites. 



In connection with this work, during the month of April, 1905, 

 advantage was taken of an opportunity to observe the occurrence and 

 injury of the strawberry weevil in the leading strawberry -producing 

 sections of Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Examinations were 

 made in all cases in the blooming season when the insects would, if 

 present, occur in their greatest abundance. In consideration of the 

 -destructiveness of this species in the strawberry fields of Maryland 

 and North Carolina during the past few years, the data concerning its 

 occurrence and nonoccurrence in the important strawberry-growing 

 sections of other States are deemed of sufficient importance to be 

 recorded. 



THE STRAWBERRY WEEVIL IN TEXAS. 



According to the latest available statistics (1899),^ more than four- 

 fifths of the strawberries produced in the State of Texas are grown in 

 two limited areas comprizing three counties. Of these sections the 



« Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. 



59 



