1950 - Fife, L. C., R. L„ Walker, and C. E. Jernigan. Examinations of woods trash 



indicate potential damage by boll weevil in 1950. S.C. Agr. Expt. Sta. 63:94-95. 

 Dec. 



In the fall of 1949, an examination of surface trash collected from woods 

 adjacent to cotton fields on Z0 farms in Florence County indicated that boll weevils 

 had entered hibernation at the record-breaking rate of 10,744 per acre. The 

 previous high record of weevils entering hibernation was 4,840 per acre in the 

 fall of 1945. The winter of 1949-50 was mild, with an average temperature of 

 52.4°F. and a minimum of 25°F. for November through February. The examina- 

 tion of surface trash in March 1950 disclosed the presence of 11,108 weevils 

 per acre. The previous high for weevil survival in Florence County was 3,969 

 per acre in March 1949. 



The lowest winter survival of the boll weevil on record at Florence was 176 

 weevils per acre in March 1940. During the winter of 1939-40 the mean tempera- 

 ture was 44.6°F. for November through February, and the minimum was 13°F. 

 Damage to the cotton crop that year was considerably below average. 



Although the winter survival is important, the damage caused by the boll 

 weevil is largely governed by weather conditions during June, July, and August. 

 With maximum temperatures below 95°F. and with frequent showers and cloudy 

 weather during these months, considerable boll weevil damage to the cotton 

 crop will result even though the winter survival is low. 



1950 - Fife, L. C, R. L. Walker, and C. E. Jernigan. Most boll weevil enter cotton 

 fields in June. S.C. Agr. Expt. Sta. 63rd Ann. Rpt., p. 95. Dec. 



Although the records from hibernation cages and surface trash examinations 

 serve as a fairly reliable test of boll -weevil survival, they do not show when 

 weevils return to cotton fields under natural conditions. Weevils in cages, espe- 

 cially in the open field, were found to emerge much earlier than weevils in 

 natural hibernation. 



A study was begun in 1938, on an isolated trap plot of early planted cotton, 

 showing periods when weevils emerged from natural hibernation and entered the 

 cotton fields. This planting has been continued each year since 1938 on the same 

 l/5-acre plot. Each plant was examined at least 3 times a week from the time 

 the cotton was large enough for weevils to feed on until July 1. All weevils 

 found were counted and killed, and every square that formed on these plants 

 during this period was removed so that no new weevils could develop. 



For the period 1938-50 an average of 27% of the weevils emerged before 

 June 1 or before the fruiting of the plant. The other 73% of the boll weevils 

 emerged in June, or after the squares began to form; and an average of 33% of 

 the weevils emerged after June 14, or after blooming began. Since the over- 

 wintering generation of weevils emerged through June and the first brood begins 

 to emerge about June 15, 3 applications of an insecticide, at weekly intervals, 

 beginning at squaring, and 3 at blooming have been recommended for early 

 season control of boll weevils. 



1952 - Beckham, C„ M., and M. Dupree. Boll weevil hibernation in Georgia in 1951-52. 

 Cotton Gin and Oil Mill Press 53(9):43-44. 



According to spring counts 75% of the weevils that went into hibernation 

 in 4 counties in Georgia survived the mild winter. 



1957 - Beckham, C. M. Hibernation sites of the boll weevil in relation to a small 

 Georgia Piedmont cotton field. J. Econ. Ent. 50(6):833-834. 



The average number of weevils found per acre in the different habitats 

 and the distance from an old cotton field are shown in a table. Examinations of 

 the different types of habitats showed that this insect overwintered in largest 

 numbers in surface woods trash near the old cotton fields. The largest number 

 of weevils was found in pine straw and leaves in the woods about 50 feet from the 

 edge of an old field. Considerably fewer weevils were found at distances of 150 

 feet and only a few at 250 feet. No weevils were found in a dense pine woods at a 

 distance of 825 feet, indicating a short flight range when the weevil is seeking 



147 



