Figure 1. Boll weevil pheromone traps are memorial monuments to one of Mississippi's most important insect pests. Without the pheromone trap, it would have been impossible to eradicate the boll weevil. Pheromone traps are also the most important tool for detecting boll weevel reinfestations. Consequently, Mississippi cotton growers should take care to avoid damaging traps that are being run in their fields.

A.      B.

Figure 4. Both the pecan weevil (A) and the billbug (B) have snouts, but they are not boll weevils.

A.     B.

Figure 6. Feeding punctures (A) which are made by both male and female boll weevils, are easily confused with feeding damage caused by small caterpillar larvae (B).

Figure 7. The raised, pimple-like oviposition puncture caused by female boll weevils is a sure sign of boll weevil infestation.

Figure 8. Flared squares can be caused by many different insects, including boll weevils.

Figure 9. Detection of a boll weevil larva (A) or pupa (B) is a sign of boll weevil infestation.

Figure 10. This graph shows the number of female boll weevils that could potentially result after five generations if all progeny from a single female boll weevil survived and reproduced (assuming each female has 150 offspring, half of which are females). While such high survival rates would never occur naturally, this example emphasizes the high reproductive potential of the boll weevil and the need for early detection of reinfestations.

Figure 11. A boll weevil can complete all four stages of its life cycle in about 3 weeks. There are about five generations per year.