Dispersal of Boll Weevils into Eradication Zones
| Problem: | Boll weevils may re-infest eradication zones during the maintenance phase of the program or after eradication is declared. Eradication of boll weevil re-infestations requires substantial financial, human, and physical resources. |
| Objective: | Determine sources and pathways of boll weevil re-infestations in the Winter Garden / Coastal Bend |
| Approach: | Aerial remote sensing imagery, the distribution of cotton and non-cotton vegetation, and meteorological factors will be analyzed within a geographic information system to determine probable sources of boll weevils captured in pheromone traps or in cotton fields within the Winter Garden / Coastal Bend Zone of the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Program. |
| Significant Impact: | These findings will lead to a better understanding of sources and pathways of boll weevil re-infestations, and specifically provide information that can be used to determine an effective pest management response by the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Program . |
John K. Westbrook