159 



304. , and Steffens, W. L. 1978. Evidence of a chemotactlc substance 

 in the spermathecal gland of the female boll weevil (Coleoptera: 

 Curculionidae) . Trans. Am. Microsc. Soc. 97: 116-120. 



The male boll weevil deposits sperm in the copulatory pouch of the female 

 during mating. Normally, the sperm swim up the spermathecal duct and enter 

 the spermatheca where they are stored until they are used for fertilization. 

 The sperm exhibit a positive chemotactic response to the secretion of the 

 spermathecal gland. This is the first report of evidence of a chemotatic 

 substance in the internal secretions of the reproductive tract of the female. 



305. Gueldner, R. C; Hedin, P. A.; and Woodard, D. N. 1975. Mineral content 

 of boll weevils, cotton buds, and synthetic diets. J. Econ. Entomol. 

 68: 428-430. 



The mineral content of Anthonomus grandis Boheman, wild and mass-reared, 

 cotton buds and synthetic difets was determined by atomic absorption spec- 

 trophotometry. Manganese was low by a factor of 10 in the artificial diet 

 when compared to cotton squares. All minerals except copper were enhanced, 

 especially iron (100-fold) in overwintered weevils when compared to F- 



weevils. 



••• 



306. ; Sikorowski, P. P.; and Wyatt, J. M. 1977. Bacterial load and 

 '*- 



pheromone production in the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis . J. 



Invertebr. Pathol. 29: 397-398. 

 The boll weevil, a major pest of cotton, is the target of a proposed large- 

 scale eradication program that is to include the release of large numbers of 

 sterile males. These male boll weevils must be mass-reared, and the mass-reared 

 insects must be competitive with native weevils in the field. Unfortunately, 

 maaa-reared boll weevils are sometimes not competitive because they are less 

 vigorous than wild ones, a condition that has been attributed to bacterial con- 



