For many years, from South Texas to Argentina, the feeding habits and nutritional requirements of the boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman) have been poorly understood, making it harder to eradicate the pest.
Despite great strides in controlling the boll weevil, it remains one of the most destructive cotton pests in the Western Hemisphere. The weevils, which feed on and lay eggs in cotton buds, can destroy a crop if left unchecked.
For nearly a decade, ARS entomologist Allan Showler at the agency's Integrated Farming and Natural Resources Research Unit in Weslaco, Texas, has been examining boll weevil ecology in subtropical environments. The research refines knowledge on the boll weevil that may help enhance the Boll Weevil Eradication Program in the subtropics, run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and supported by ARS research.