Boll Weevil Eradication: Area-Wide Pest Management

Boll weevil eradication is a successful but controversial example of area-wide pest management. Negative economic effects resulted as the boll weevil invaded the southern cotton growing states. Early control efforts gave only moderate relief as growers fought the weevil with chemical applications. By the mid-1950s, the weevil developed resistance to the new chemicals introduced after World War II. The cotton industry responded with a call for increased research to eradicate the boll weevil. After several years of intensive research by both federal and state agencies, a pilot eradication trial was started in 1971. After extensive evaluation and additional research, a 2nd trial program was started in 1978. This program expanded westward from the East Coast in 1983 and was followed by a new program in the far western cotton states in 1985. These programs have been expensive to the cotton industry but have resulted in great economic and environmental benefits in eradicated areas. The successes have not been without problems and controversy. Recent program recalls in 2 areas have slowed progress to eradicate the entire Cotton Belt. Much of the cotton industry now supports eradication and believes it is too important not to be a complete success.