Excerpt from The Boll Weevil Problem: With Special Reference to Means of Reducing Damage
This bulletin, dealing with work done under the direction of Dr. L. O. Howard, Chief of the Bureau of Entomology, is intended to cover in a general way the whole field of the control of the boll weevil. As this control is inseparably connected with the life history and habits of the insect and, in fact, must be based thereon, attention is given to the principal features of the insects economy. In addition, information is given relating to the amount of damage done, the extent of the infested territory, and such other matters as are of special interest at this time.
Like many of the most important injurious insects in this country, the cotton boll weevil is not a native of the United States. Its original home was undoubtedly in the plateau region of Mexico or Central America, and it may originally have fed upon some plant other than cotton. This is not necessarily the case, however, since there is evidence that the same region is the original home of the cotton plant itself. Previous to 1892 the insect had spread through Mexico, but little is known regarding the extent or rapidity of this dispersion. The records indicate, however, that it had probably caused the abandonment of cotton in certain regions. About 1802 the boll weevil crossed the Rio Grande near Brownsville, Tex. It may have flown across, or it is possible that it was carried over in seed cotton to be ginned at Brownsville. By 1894 it had spread to a half dozen counties in southern Texas and was brought to the attention of the Bureau of Entomology. A preliminar examination, made under the direction of Dr. L. O. Howard by Mr. C. H. T. Townsend, showed the enormous capacity for damage of the pest. Subsequent events have verified in every way the predictions that were made at that time, when the insect had not attracted any considerable amount of attention in the South. Since 1894 the boll weevil has extended its range annually from 40 to 70 miles, although in two instances the winter conditions have been such as to cause a decrease in the infested area. During the first ten years after its advent into this country the annual rate of spread was 5,640 square miles.
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