Method for determining the causes of natural mortality of the cotton boll weevil

Abstract

The research was conducted in the regions of the "Agreste", "Seridó" and "Sertão" of the State of Paraíba, Brazil, during 1986 to 1990 cotton seasons. The results showed that: 1) the causes of natural mortality of the Anthonomus grandis within cotton squares are: inviability of egg, desiccation, parasitism, predation and disease, and 2) the method adopted in this research using light-brown or dark-brown and dry cotton squares is efficient for determining the causes of natural mortality of the cotton boll weevil that occurs within squares of the upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. raga latifolium Hutch.) and perennial cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. raga marie galante Hutch.).