PREFACE. 
Until the advent of the Mexican cotton boll weevil the bollworm 
was easily the most serious of the numerous insect pests of the cotton 
plant. The coming of the weevil has in no way lessened the destruc- 
tiveness of the bollworm, though its injuries have been overshadowed 
by the more serious depredations of the former species. 
The extent of bollworm ravages in recent years, notably in portions 
of Texas, was the occasion of an investigation su^jplementary to those 
previously made by the Bureau of Entomology. Under the provision 
of Congress for investigations concerning the cotton boll weevil, the 
senior author was detailed to the bollworm work in Texas in March, 
1903. Headquarters were established at Victoria, where office and 
laboratory facilities were available in the building occupied by the 
force engaged in boll weevil investigations. 
During that year special attention was given to field work, though 
such laboratory investigations as were possible were conducted. The 
principal results of field work in 1903 have been reported in Farmers' 
Bulletin No. 191 of this Department. 
By reason of an increased appropriation the bollworm. investigation 
was considerably enlarged in 1901. Headquarters were established at 
Paris, Tex., and a field laboratory was fitted up with necessary appa 
ratus for thorough life-history studies. Field experiments were also 
greatl}^ extended, the area under experiment amounting to about 600 
acres. Three additional entomologists were employed in the work, 
and a fifth was engaged from July 1 to October 31. In addition to 
the authors, these were Messrs. F. C. Bishopp, A. A. Girault, and 
C. R. Jones. The senior author, under the direction of the Entomolo- 
gist, has been directly in charge of the investigation in the laboratory 
and field. Laboratory details were supervised by the junior author, 
assisted b}^ Mr. Girault. Messrs. Bishopp and Jones were occupied 
in making field observations and with work connected with the several 
experimental farms. Original observations by these gentlemen are 
credited to them in the pages of this bulletin. 
Thanks are due many citizens of Texas and of other States, both 
planters and business men, for courtesies extended during the course 
(3) , 
