42 PAPERS ON THE COTTON BOLL WEEVIL, ETC. 



records, the weevil's activity is probably limited to the flowering activ- 

 ity of the plant, after which it goes into estivation and hibernation. 



The weevil generally oviposits in the bud, altho perhaps also in the 

 ovary. The egg puncture is immediately sealed, just as by Anthono- 

 mus grandis. Owing to the brief period from bud to flower the 

 metamorphosis is comparatively rapid. The only observation on this 

 point limited the pupa stage to less than 4 days. The egg is lemon- 

 yellow, elliptical, measuring 0.375 mm. in breadth and 0.484 mm. in 

 length. It is placed among the anthers, generally near the base of 

 the floral column. Incident to the act of oviposition the petals become 

 sealed by the released juices and are prevented from fully opening, so 

 that the developing weevil is still protected from its enemies. Larvae 

 or pupae are often found thus in the sealed flower, and are sometimes 

 still in this part after it has dropt. On the other hand the larvae 

 frequently eat into the ovary and there construct a pupal cell of their 

 excrement. The weevils may oviposit in the ovary, altho no definite 

 record was obtained. The ovaries are largely infested by a very 

 small weevil, which is as }^et undetermined. After June 9 neither 

 copulation nor oviposition was observed. 



July 4 was the last date of finding larvae in the field. Thirty-two 

 flowers had but two larvae, and two showed feeding punctures. On 

 July 1 seven adults were taken in the field. The Callirrhoe ceased 

 blooming about July 10. As the weevils in the breeding cages ceased 

 to feed on the flowers early in July, they were placed with a plant in 

 a large breeding cage for estivation on July 27. The Callirrhoe 

 plants were induced to bloom until about November 1 by transplant- 

 ing, but the weevils did not seem inclined to feed again. A weevil 

 which had not fed for a month was still active August 9, and on 

 August 16 was observed to feed on the flowers of the host plant. 



The weevils normally feed on the anthers and on the surface of the 

 petals. They refused to touch the foliage. When offered a choice of 

 Callirrhoe or cotton blooms, they almost invariably went directly to 

 the former. When given cotton alone they were observed to feed on 

 the pollen and petals and in one case indication of feeding on the square 

 was observed. 



In habit the weevil is like Anthonomus grandis. It is susceptible 

 to movement and when conscious of a disturbance remains alert on the 

 edge of a petal. A slight movement will cause it to drop to the 

 ground, where it is almost impossible to find it. It is a very ready 

 flyer and goes from plant to plant in this manner. 



ANTHONOMUS SQUAMOSUS Lee. 



This species was found breeding in very large numbers by Mr. C. R. 

 Jones and the writer on Grindelia squarrosa nuda at Clarendon, Tex. 

 It has previously been recorded from the same plant in Colorado and 



