FEEDING HABITS OF THE BOLL WEEVIL ON PLANTS 
OTHER THAN COTTON 
By B. R. Coad, 
Expert , Investigations of Insects Affecting Southern Field Crops , 
Bureau of Entomology 
In the course of the investigations on the biology of Anthonomus 
grandis at Victoria, Tex., during the summer of 19x3, under the direc¬ 
tion of Mr. W. D. Hunter, the writer was able to conduct a number of 
experiments on the possibility of the boll weevil’s breeding in some of 
the native malvaceous plants. Since the results secured differ with the 
plants, they are grouped under the various species of plants tested. 
The nutritive value of these plants is best shown by a comparison of 
the longevity of boll weevils fed upon them and the length of life of 
specimens fed upon cotton and also those kept without food. For this 
reason the following summary taken from experiments conducted at 
the same time is given. Forty boll weevils placed on moist sand imme¬ 
diately after emergence and left without food gave a maximum longevity 
of 6 days, the average for the two sexes being 3.3 days. A number 
of boll weevils fed only on cotton bolls gave a maximum longevity of 
32 days and an average of 17.2 days. Those fed only on cotton leaves 
had a maximum life of 45 days and an average of 12 days. Of course, 
the boll weevils fed on cotton squares lived longer than any others. 
Their maximum life period was 74 days, the average being 40 days. 
FEEDING EXPERIMENTS WITH SPHAERALCEA LINDHEIMERI 
Sphaeralcea lindheimeri Gray is found in small groups on some of the 
sandy areas near Victoria, though it is comparatively rare. This is 
evidently the northern part of its range. It is a low-growing, crown¬ 
branching plant, and is extremely tomentose throughout. The petals 
in the buds are very loosely packed and are tightly covered by a heavy, 
woolly calyx. The buds are very poorly adapted either for the feeding 
or breeding of boll weevils. 
Early in the season six hibernated individuals were collected from 
cotton in the field and placed with buds, blooms, and fruit of Sphaeralcea 
lindheimeri . These boll weevils fed quite readily, but deposited no eggs. 
In 22 daily examinations failure to feed was noticed on 5 days. The 
feeding was never very extensive and was usually confined to the corolla. 
The life of these boll weevils after being placed on Sphaeralcea was 
rather short, especially when the amount of feeding is considered. The 
maximum longevity was 15 days, and the average of both sexes was 8.5 
days. It is quite probable that the boll weevils would have been able to 
live almost as long without any food whatever. The average life of a 
number of boll weevils collected in the field about the same time and fed 
on cotton squares was 46.2 days. 
Later in the season another experiment was conducted in which boll 
weevils that had just emerged from cotton squares were placed with the 
buds, blooms, and fruit of Sphaeralcea lindheimeri . There was more 
Journal of Agricultural Research, 
Dept, of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 
(23s) 
Vol. II, No. 3 
June 15, 1914 
K—8 
