Methods for Determining Pink Bollworm Populations in Blooms

Daily bloom inspections for pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), during the first 21 days of blooming showed that a count of the number of infested blooms per acre was a better index of the spring population developing in squares than one based on the percent of blooms infested. The most reliable time for making this count was from about the 8th through the 17th day after blooming had started. A survey method for estimating the larval population per acre is described.