COTTON OR WEEVILS 3 
they do not lose much time in taking a meal. But if it is too early 
for cotton, okra, or hollyhocks to be growing, they simply go with- 
out food until some of these plants appear above the ground. It is 
a strange thing that at this time of the year active boll weevils can 
live without food for several days. 
weevil with wings spread, as in flight, is shown at.A. At B is a weevil as seen 
from above, with legs spread out. At C is a weevil feeding on a cotton boll, as 
Seen from the side. All are about four times natural size 
5 Fic. 1.—The “ grown-up” cotton-boll weevil can either walk or fly, as it chooses. A 
The parts of the cotton plant which boll weevils like best as food 
are the flower buds, or “squares” as the cotton planter calls them. 
But before the flower buds come the weevils eat the growing tips of 
the cotton plants and appear to like that food. 
