Discussion 



The data showed that the early-season, commiinity-wide, boll -weevil- 

 control program held weevil populations to very low levels during the 

 application period, and below the 10-percent, punctured-square level for 

 3 to 5 weeks thereafter. The data indicate that the mass xnigration 

 usually resulting from the emergence of the F2 generation will not occur 

 in populations produced in fields that have received effective early- 

 season applications of insecticide and h or more late-season applications, 

 beginning when the infestation reaches approximately 3 to 5 percent. 



Yield data indicate early- plus late-season applications will produce 

 the greatest economic returns only if other necessary production practices, 

 such as the use of adequate fertilizer and defoliants, are followed. 



A reduction of over 60 percent in the number of overwintering weevils 

 in hibernation quarters within the treatment area below that of the sur- 

 rounding area indicates that an early-season program, followed by a series 

 of effective late-season applications will materially reduce the numbers 

 of weevils entering hibernation and surviving within the treatment area. 



The early-season weevil infestation data show that although numbers 

 of weevils can be materially reduced, complete control with available 

 materials and equipment is extremely difficult. This is largely because 

 of the impossibility of achieving complete plant coverage and the dele- 

 terious effects of rainfall on insecticides and application schedules. 

 The data does indicate, however, that the number of weevils can be reduced 

 to levels at which other approaches to control, such as the sterile male 

 release technique or plant resistance, could be used effectively to fur- 

 ther reduce or to decimate the population. 



The demonstrated success of the early-season community-control pro- 

 gram should encourage other groups growing cotton under similar environ- 

 mental conditions to consider this approach to boll weevil control. Wide 

 usage of an effective early-season control program should decrease popu- 

 lation buildup to the extent that need for late -season control would be 

 reduced to a minimum, and the problem of controlling mass migrating 

 weevils within the treatment area would be largely eliminated. 



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