PREFACE. 5 



col ton fields throughout the South the soc(\ pods of which are infested 



by a weevil (AntTionoinus aZbopilosus) closely allied to the boll weevil. 

 This weevil has three different parasites, which also attack the boll 

 weevil. The croton weevil does not \'w(\ upon cotton or any other 

 cultivated plants. By merely mowing down or otherwise removing 

 the croton plants at the proper time there could be no danger From 

 the croton weevil, while its parasites would be forced to turn their 

 attention to the boll weevil. It is conceivable that the encourage- 

 ment of the croton plants or the actual planting and later removal 

 might be undertaken in order to obtain the best possible results. 



Other results of practical application are recorded in this bulletin. 

 Among them may be mentioned the fact that fallen forms exposed 

 to the sun show higher parasitism than those shaded, due undoubt- 

 edly to the light-loving character of the parasites. This gives another 

 reason for the wide spacing of the plants and the use of varieties of 

 cotton with the minimum tendency to form leafage and the greatest 

 tendency to shed their leaves in the fall. 



W. D. Hunter. 

 In Charge of Cotton Boll Weevil Investigations. 



