101 



187. ; McGovern, W. L.; and Mitchell, H. C. 1969. Biology of Bracon 

 kirkpatricki and field releases of the parasite for control of the 

 boll weevil. J. Econ. Entomol. 62: A48-454. 



Bracon kirkpatricki (Wilk_nson), braconid parasite of larvae of several 

 lepidopterous species that occurs widely in tropical regions of Africa, 

 was introduced into Texas, northern Mexico, and Puerto Rico in the 1930 's 

 and 1940' s in an attempt to control the pink bollworm, Pectinophora 

 gossypiella (Saunders), but it did not overwinter successfully. In 1935, 

 J. W. Folsom demonstrated parasitism of the boll weevil, Anthonomus grand is 

 Boheman, by B^. kirkpatricki in an insectary at Tallulah, La., and recorded 

 his observations which are summarized in this paper. In 1966, live adults 

 and cocoons were received from Kenya by the USDA Boll Weevil Research Labora- 

 tory. Since then, a colony has been maintained continuously by using larvae 

 of the boll weevil as host material. Several recent releases in the field 

 produced varying percentages of parasitism of boll weevils. 



188. , and Mitchell, H. C. 1966. Mating behavior of the female boll weevil. 

 J. Econ. Entomol. 59: 1503-1507. 



Mating behavior of the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, was observed 

 in Isolated cottonfield plots in Florida and Mississippi. Males did not 

 respond to females over distances greater than 1 or 2 inches, but females 

 often sought males at distances of more than 30 feet, especially from down- 

 wind positions. Elaborate tactile behavior by the female was common in in- 

 ducing males to mate. Successive multiple matings were noted for both 

 sexes. 



