Enterprise and the boll weevil are no strangers, but just because you may know our city’s history doesn’t mean you know much about the actual bug. That’s why we decided to share 10 facts about the boll weevil that might interest you!
The scientific name for the boll weevil is Anthonomus grandis.
A boll weevil is a beetle in the insect family Curculionidae, part of the insect order Coleoptera. Weevils are known for having elongated snouts. Many weevils have distinct, long-elbowed antennae that may fold into grooves on the snout. Some don’t have wings, while others are excellent fliers.
Boll weevils can fly.
Turns out, boll weevils are fliers. Individual boll weevils can travel up to 169 miles with wind-assisted flight.
It was introduced to the United States from Mexico in the 1890s.
Did you know the boll weevil isn’t native to the United States? According to Wikipedia, the “insect crossed the Rio Grande near Brownsville, Texas, to enter the United States from Mexico in 1892.”
The boll weevil feeds on cotton buds and flowers.
No wonder this little bug can wreak havoc on the cotton industry. It’s what they eat. The females also lay eggs inside cotton buds and ripening bolls, or fruits, the cotton plants. Hence, the nickname “boll weevil.”
The average mature boll weevil is about 0.25 inch.
When we said “little bug,” we meant it. Typically, the adult boll weevil, snout and all, is about 0.25 inches. For reference, that’s about the size of a thumb tack!
They emerge in early spring and thrive through the summer.
All in all, the lifecycle is about three weeks. Adults overwinter in cotton fields or well-drained areas and begin to emerge in the early spring. They hit their peak in late spring and thrive through midsummer.
Depending on conditions, up to 10 generations could be born in a season.
Females lay between 100 and 300 eggs in a cotton bud. After that, it takes two to three weeks for an egg to mature into an adult. If all goes well and the conditions are right, there could be as many as 10 generations in just one season!
Boll weevils arrived in Coffee County in the spring of 1915.
According to Auburn University’s article, “150 Years: Defeating the Boll Weevil,” the boll weevil appeared in the spring of 1915 in Coffee County. The insects lived well at the expense of area farmers, where production went from 30,000 to 10,000 bales in a year.
But fear not—a solution would soon be planted.
Their arrival led to exciting changes in the Progressive City!
Agricultural extension agents and locals knew things had to change in Enterprise, so they began looking at cash crops that boll weevils didn’t like. After visiting states not so dependent on cotton, such as North Carolina and Virginia, a decision was made.
Farmers started planting peanuts. By 1919, Coffee County produced more peanuts than any other county in America!
There is only one monument worldwide dedicated to the boll weevil.
Known as one of the most unique monuments in the world, the only monument dedicated to the boll weevil is in the heart of our city!
Summary
The Boll Weevil Monument is just one unique aspect of our community. Are you ready to settle in and discover more about life in a quaint Southern town? Summer Court Townhomes wants to welcome you home! Learn more about us and community life by reading our blogs.