29 



the results of these, experiments may furnish reasons for changing our 

 conclusions upon this point, the present indication is that the bene- 

 ficial effect of thorough cultivation lies in the direct influence which 

 that practice exerts upon the steady and rapid growth of the cotton, 

 thus favoring the production of squares, the setting of bolls, and the 

 early maturity of the crop rather than in the direct destruction of the 

 weevils by burying them either while in the squares or after they have 

 become adult. 



THE ADULT. 



BEFORE EMERGENCE. 



Immediately after its transformation from the pupa the adult is 

 very light in color and comparatively soft and helpless. The probos- 

 cis is darkest in color, being of a yellowish brown; the pronotum, 

 tibiae, and tips of the elytra come next in depth of coloring. The ely- 

 tra are pale yellowish, as are also the femora. The mouth parts, claws, 

 and the teeth upon the inner side of the fore femora are nearty black. 

 The body is soft and the young adult is unable to travel (PL III, 

 fig. 18), consequently this period is passed where pupation occurs. 

 Usually two or more days are required to attain the normal coloring 

 and the necessary degree of hardness to enable the adult to make its 

 escape from the square or cell. 



EMERGENCE. 



The normal method of escape from squares and small bolls is by 

 cutting with its mandibles a hole just the size of the weevil's body 

 (PI. IV, fig. 21). In large bolls the escape of the weevil is greatly 

 facilitated by the natural opening of the boll (PI. IV, fig. 22). Often 

 the pupal cell is broken open by the spreading of the carpels, and 

 when this is the case the pupa, if it has not already transformed, 

 bscomes exposed to the attack of enemies or, what is probably a more 

 serious menace, the danger of drying so as to seriously interfere with 

 a successful transformation. If the cell remains unbroken the weevil 

 always escapes by the path of least resistance, cutting its way through 

 as in the case of a square (PL IV, fig. 26). The material removed 

 does not appear to be eaten, but is rather cast aside and left within 

 the cell as a mass of fine debris. 



CHANGES AFTER EMERGENCE. 



At the time of emergence the weevils are comparatively soft, and 

 they do not attain their final degree of hardness for some time after 

 they have begun to feed. If they never feed they never harden. 

 The color of the chitin is of an orange tinge at the time the weevils 

 leave the squares or bolls, but after exposure for some time it turns 

 to a dark chocolate brown. The development of the hair-like scales 

 is probably entirely checked by the drying of the chitin, but the 



