' , 638 - 
Th$ emergence of 15011 weevils in the hibernation cages and. the number of 
weevils . found in woods- trash in Florence County, S . C., war higher in 1939 than 
in 1932 , indicnting that the T eevil- popul^t ion in the fields would be higher; 
however, field studies made during the spring showed that for some reason this 
expected increase in the field population did not develop, and the number of 
weevils in the cotton fields "’as about normal. Conditions were favorable for 
cotton to grow fast and mature early and the boll weevil damage in South Carolina 
in 1939 was notably less than in 1938. In Madison Parish, La. , the boll weevil 
population "’as rather light, during the fall of 1938 because most of the cotton 
had been defoliated by cotton leaf worms. In the hibernation cages l.l 6 percent 
of the weevils survived, as compared to I .13 percent in the spring of 1938 .’ This 
was a considerably higher survival than in 1933 , 193 5 . and 1936 , "but much lower 
than in 1932, 193^* and 1937* However, examinations of 'Spanish moss and surface 
trash in -March 1939 indi.cat.ed the presence of more .weevils than in 1938, and fie]) 
counts made in May and Juno 1939 revealed that the weevil population in the field 
was greater than during any spring since 1935 , but lower than during each year 
of the 4-year period 1932-35* Weather conditions during June 1939 were not 
favorable. for the boll weevils , and early planted cotton developed with little 
• weevil damage. In July and August conditions were more favorable for the weevils 
and lat o-plan ted cotton was seriously damaged, but in these fields the damage was 
not so great as- would have been the case had not June been unfavorable for boll 
weevil increase. 
At State College, northeastern Mississippi, the overwintered weevils in 
the cotton early in the season of 1939 not so abundant as in the spring of 
1938, when they were more numerous than in any spring since the laboratory was 
opened, in 1954„ However, conditions were favorable during June for holl weevil 
increase throughout northeastern Mississippi and, owing to the high boll weevil 
population and excessive rainfall, the cotton crop produced in that area was only 
about 30 percent of normal. This serious reduction in yield ‘could have been 
avo ^ e< ^ nore the cotton been poisoned for boll weevil control, 
V,. Harned, Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, U, S. D, A. ) 
BOLLWORM 
The bollworm "’as generally distributed in 1939 and caused more damage than 
usual in Mississippi and the other 'Southeastern States, except Florida, but did 
not cause as severe damage as usual in Texas and adjacent States, where it often 
causes serious losses. In Florida the bollworm infestations were spotted and 
the bollworm caused less damage to the cotton crop than usual. The total damage 
to cotton in the United States was probably less than usual* 
This insect w as reported as early as April 5 la "the egg stage on alfalfa 
near College Station, Tex. Eggs were found on the terminal buds of cotton in 
Calhoun County, Tex., at the rate of 7 eggs per 100 terminal buds on June 3» 1939* 
A few worms were also observed feeding in the terminal buds of cotton at that 
time. They were reported to be causing some damage to cotton squares in Tift, 
Berrien, and Cook Counties, Ga,. . . on June 17; at Troy and Harts el le, Ala, , on 
June 21; and in Washington County, Miss., on June p4 e Moths of the bollworm were 
observed at Florence, S. C,, on June l^. During July boll *orras were destroying 
squares and bolls in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida. Mississippi, and in many 
parts of Texas. The infestations were usually light, but were severe in isolated 
fields in Florida, Georgia, and Texas. 
