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Title: MOVEMENT OF BOLL WEEVILS RELATIVE TO COTTON PLANT PHENOLOGY

Author
item Coppedge, James
item Jones, Gretchen
item O Neil, Thomas - Mike
item Raulston, Jimmy
item Spurgeon, Dale
item SALGADO, E. - INIFAP

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/5/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Boll weevil movement, measured by trap baited with a sex attractant, was studied in several areas of Texas, in Mississippi, and Mexico. These studies showed that more boll weevils were captured at sites removed from cotton than near cotton that boll weevils which have survivedthe winter enter cotton over long periods of time depending on location. The results of these tests could be useful in planning trap deployment in future boll weevil eradication programs.

Technical Abstract: Boll weevil movement, measured by pheromone-baited traps, was investigated relative to the development of cotton in selected (core) cotton fields. In general, more boll weevils were captured at sites away from than near cotton fields. High numbers of boll weevils were captured up to five miles from cotton. Boll weevil trap captures declined at all sites as the growing season progressed; however, the decline was much more rapid near cotton. Boll weevils were captured at all locations during the entire cropping season indicating that overwintered boll weevils may enter cotton over the entire cropping season or that there is a continuous movement of boll weevils between cropped and uncropped areas. The percentage of total number of boll weevils captured before first one-third grown square ranged from 95 percent at Munday, Texas, to 50 percent in Tampico, Mexico. Evidence is presented which suggests that a portion of the F1 boll weevil population leaves cotton and moves to remote areas although cotton is near the peak fruiting period.