Abstract
Tests were made to determine the presence of feeding stimulants and attractants for Anthonomus grandis Boheman in aqueous extracts of host and nonhost species of the family Malvaceae including cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L. The host plants found infested most frequently in nature generally contained the highest concentrations of feeding stimulant and attractant. Also, all known plants except Hibiscus syriacus L. attacked in nature by the boll weevil contained gossypol. Thus, plants containing gossypol seem preferred, but its presence does not appear to be an absolute requirement for host acceptability. Of the species tested, Cienfuegosia sulphurea (St. Hill.) Garki and Thespesia populnea (L.) Soland ex Carrea seemed the most suitable wild hosts next to cotton. H. syriacus again was not preferred. However, late in the season when it is near cotton it is sometimes attacked. For this reason, and because of its wide geographical distribution and general abundance as an ornamental throughout the Cotton Belt, it is the most important of the alternative hosts to consider in any future eradication programs against the boll weevil.
Published Version
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