when did the boll weevil come to georgia

The boll weevil greatly affected Georgia's long history of cotton production between 1915, when the insect was introduced to Georgia, and the early 1990s, when it was eliminated as an economic pest.

How did the boll weevil get to Georgia?

The six–legged scourge crossed the Rio Grande into Texas in 1892 and began moving east, infesting the entire Cotton Belt by 1919. The first boll weevil appeared in Georgia in 1915 in Thomasville.

When did the boll weevil come to America?

Boll weevils entered the U.S. from Mexico in the late 1800s, when they were first spotted in Texas. By the 1920s they had spread through all of the major cotton-producing areas in the country.

When was the boll weevil infestation?

Introduced to the United States from Mexico in the 1890s, the boll weevil was a severe agricultural pest for nearly 90 years, until the launch of an aggressive multiyear eradication campaign in 1978.

Where the boll weevil first entered the United States?

The boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, is a small beetle—about ¼ inch long --with wings and a very pronounced snout. America, the weevil entered the United States in 1892 near Brownsville, Texas and thereafter advanced 40 to 160 miles a year (see Figure 1).

Why are boll weevils bad?

Boll weevils can completely destroy a cotton crop. Boll weevils eat all the buds off the plants; they destroy any cotton that the plants manage to produce by eating and laying eggs in the cotton.

What happened to the boll weevil?

The boll weevil greatly affected Georgia's long history of cotton production between 1915, when the insect was introduced to Georgia, and the early 1990s, when it was eliminated as an economic pest. ... The boll weevil's decimation of the cotton industry in the South had implications for the entire region.

What killed the boll weevil?

Malathion 57% is an organophosphate insecticide that can be applied to crops and non-crop plants to kill a wide variety of insects, including Boll Weevils. For large croplands, Malathion is primarily used with a professional skid sprayer or boom sprayer.

Are boll weevils harmful to humans?

Weevils, whether in larval or adult stage, are not harmful to humans or animals. Although it may seem unsavory to you, they can be eaten along with any food they have infested without causing any ill effects. ... If weevils eat the grains and die, observers know pesticides are present.

How does the boll weevil destroy cotton?

How Does The Boll Weevil Destroy Cotton Plants? Simply put, boll weevils eat almost every part of the cotton plant. Early in the growing season, they eat the cotton plant leaves. ... The eggs hatch, and the grubs begin eating the contents of the bud.

How do you prevent boll weevils?

Prevent Grain Weevils

Inspect all grains upon purchase.
Freeze grains for at least 1 week (or store permanently in the freezer) to kill any eggs.
Buy grains in small quantities and eat within a reasonable period of time. ...
Store grains in tightly sealed glass, metal, or sturdy plastic containers (not bags).

Do boll weevils fly?

The boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis) attacks cotton crops; it lays its eggs inside cotton bolls and the larvae eat their way out. ... Some weevils have the ability to fly, such as the rice weevil.

What does a boll weevil look like?

Appearance. What Do They Look Like? Color: Boll weevils are black, reddish-brown, or gray in color. Size: These weevils measure an average of 6 mm in length.

Do boll weevils eat corn?

More common food stuff they like include seeds of all types, dried beans, cotton, nuts, cereal, any wheat product, corn, flour, pasta, bread and other grain products found in any home. But their tastes don't end in the pantry. Maize Weevils will readily feed on cotton fabric found in furniture and clothing.

How do you get rid of weevils?

Cloves and bay leaves act as natural repellents to weevils. Place a few bay leaves in your dried food containers to ward off these pests, and position several cloves of garlic around your pantry and kitchen to deter these bugs from making a home in your pantry. White vinegar is also known to kill pesky pantry weevils.

Do weevils bite humans?

Rice and granary weevils are harmless to people, houses, furniture, clothing and pets. They cannot bite or sting and they do not carry diseases. They will not feed on furniture, the house structure or other items. The harm they do is destruction of the seeds they infest and the annoyance of being in the wrong place.

Do weevils like sugar?

Flour, rice, other grains, sugar and seeds are all susceptible to weevil infestations if improperly stored. ... Grains and other food susceptible to weevils should be placed in the freezer for at least 72 hours to kill any larvae or adult weevil.

Can weevils infest your house?

Weevils that come indoors for shelter can infest every room in the home. ... Rice weevils, bean weevils and other stored food weevils feed inside food packages. They can remain hidden in the pantry for a long time. Homeowners might spot adult weevils wandering on the shelves or floor of the pantry.

How did the boll weevil mostly affect Georgia's economy?

How did the boll weevil MOSTLY affect Georgia's economy? It forced Georgia to have a manufacturing economy. It forced Georgia to have a manufacturing economy. ... By 1915, this insect migrated to GA and drastically reduced the state's cotton crop.

What destroyed much of Alabama's cotton in 1915?

When boll weevils destroyed the cotton harvest in 1915, it was devastating. Until then, cotton had been the region's largest crop.

Is the boll weevil a type of roach?

The Boll Weevil is a type of roach. The Boll Weevil feeds on cotton buds. ... The Boll Weevil struck the South in the late-1900s.