96 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. I, No. 2 
Thurberia is known to occur in Fish Creek Canyon, one of the sources 
of the Salt River. This valley has the most extensive cotton plantings 
in Arizona. However, the boll weevil has not been observed there. 
No observations have been made in the vicinity of the Gila River 
valley, but as Thurberia occur§ in the mountains both north and south 
of this valley, it undoubtedly also occurs in some of the ranges bordering 
the valley. 
The Arizona weevil may be able to cover considerable distances by 
flight, especially if compelled to seek sustenance elsewhere. However, 
it will probably cleave to its native food plant as long as this gives 
sufficiently abundant food, though a great increase of weevils or a 
decrease of food might drive them to seek other food. They would 
take more readily to cotton than anything else, and once they find the 
rich, succulent cotton, with its plentiful food and moistened soil, they 
will probably do serious damage. It is to be feared that a wholesale 
destruction of the native food plant might invite a quicker than natural 
adaptation to cotton on the part of this western weevil. This matter 
is now under investigation, but at the present time it is the writer’s 
personal opinion that the safest plan is to preserve the status quo of 
the weevil in the mountains. An introduction of parasites from the 
cotton boll weevil would be of considerable assistance in reducing the 
Arizona weevil and would not cause its dispersal. 
There is danger of a distribution of weevil-infested buds through the 
drainage system by summer freshets. After such occurrences the cotton 
should be watched very closely for several weeks for the appearance of 
weevils. 
The cotton boll weevil has never been able to successfully invade the 
drier cotton sections of western and northwestern Texas, although it has 
been expected that it will gradually adapt itself to the more rigid con¬ 
ditions of these sections. It is of extreme importance that the Arizona 
weevil be kept out of western Texas and any part of the southeast, except 
when under very careful isolated observation of specialists. If acci¬ 
dentally introduced into other sections, the Thurberia weevil might be 
able to stand much greater variations of climate than Anthonomus 
grandis Boh. and become a much more powerful pest. Furthermore, 
there is every reason to believe that Anthonomus grandis thurberiae could 
withstand the rigors of the climate of western Texas. 
It is therefore important that restriction by quarantine be considered, 
and this matter will be taken up at an early date by the Federal Horti¬ 
cultural Board. 
