Appearance

• Color: Boll weevils are black, reddish-brown, or gray in color.
• Size: These weevils measure an average of 6 mm in length.

Diet

The boll weevil diet consists solely of cotton plants and closely related vegetation. During the larval stage, the boll weevil feeds on the cotton that surrounds it, thus rendering the bud and flower unusable in cotton harvests.

Geographic Range

They are present in the United States, as well as in other regions with high cotton crop concentrations, such as South America.

Reproduction

The name of this insect was derived from its habit of laying eggs in the cotton plant’s boll. The complete life cycle of the boll weevil lasts approximately three weeks. Despite a short lifespan, their damage can be massive as one female is capable of laying up to 200 eggs.