UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
DEPARTMENT BULLETIN No. 1374 
Washington, D. C. 
March, 1926 
STUDIES OF THE PINK BOLLWORM IN MEXICO 
By W. Ohlendorf, Plant Quarantine Inspector, Federal Horticultural Board 
Inception and scope of the work 
Distribution of the pink bollworm 
Habits 
Damage caused by the pink bollworm . 
CONTENTS 
Page 
1 
2 
3 
15 
Food plants - 28 
Dissemination by flight. 
Natural control 
Repression 
Summary 
Page 
29 
31 
37 
64 
INCEPTION AND SCOPE OF THE WORK i 
Since its introduction into Mexico in 1911 the pink bollworm 2 
has established itself firmly in the Laguna district and has made 
its appearance in several less important cotton-growing sections 
in Mexico, as well as at several points in the United States. The 
United States Department of Agriculture began research work on 
the pink bollworm in the Laguna district of Mexico in 1918. The 
results of the work of 1918 and 1919 were reported by Loftin, Mc- 
Kinney, and Hanson. 3 After an interruption of one year the work 
was resumed in March, 1921, at a new station at Tlahualilo, Durango, 
Mexico, on a large cotton plantation. 4 
In considering the results of the research work dealt with in this 
report, it must be recalled that the climate in the Laguna district 
(fig. 1) is very dry, the average annual rainfall being only about 8 
i This report is based on two years' work in the Laguna, conducted by the Federal Horticultural Board 
under the authority given, in the appropriation for the eradication of the pink bollworm, to investigate 
in Mexico or elsewhere the pink bollworm as a basis for control measures. This investigation has been 
conducted under the general direction of the chairman of the board and W. D. Hunter, a member of the 
board. In accordance with the policy established by this board with respect to any research work on 
insect pests which it becomes necessary for the board to conduct, the results of this investigation are pre- 
sented as a contribution through and in collaboration with the Bureau of Entomology. The field and 
laboratory work has been under the charge of W. Ohlendorf, assisted at various times by the following 
agents of the Federal Horticultural Board: F. F. Bibby, A. C. Johnson, C. R. Roitsch, R. B. Lattimore, 
J. C. Woodward, W. R. Sudduth, and D. M. McEachern. 
. 2 Pectinophora gossypiella Saunders. . , , . , , „ 
s U. C. Loftin, K. B. McKinney, and W. K. Hanson. Report on investigations of the pink bollworm 
of cotton in Mexico. U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 918, 64 pp., illus. 1921. 
* Special thanks are due the Tlahualilo Agricultural & Colonization Company for extending all facili- 
ties that could in any way assist in the research work. To the Testamentana de Carlos Gonzales also 
hanks are due for many courtesies extended in connection with numerous observations made in fields 
m their properties, as well as to many other planters in the Laguna district who at all times willingly 
:ooperated in any investigations made in the district generally. The Comision Inspectora de Plagas at 
Torreon, charged with the enforcement of the regulations of the Mexican Government relating to the 
)ink bollworm, cooperated in a most satisfactory manner. This commission is under the direction of 
Dr. R. Ramirez of Mexico City, with Juan Antuna in charge at Torreon. 
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