The Mating Behavior of the Boll Weevil, Anthonomus grandis1

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Abstract
The mating habits of the boll weevil were studied to determine the percentages of those mating in various age groups and time interval between repeat mating. The numbers of males mating increased as their ages increased. The length of the interval of confinement and the age of the female had less effect on the percent increase of mating than the age of the male. Observations indicated that the female would attempt to repulse the male if she had been mated within 24 hours prior to the mating attempt. Males were found to mate more frequently than females. Analyses were made of certain biological phenomena of nonmated, once-mated, and multiple-mated females. Nonmated females laid high percentage of eggs on the outside of the cotton square, while mated females deposited the majority of eggs inside the square. The females which were mated only once, laid eggs normally for approximately 19 to 21 days and then reverted to an unmated behavior pattern.

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