THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF THE BOLL-WEEVIL, ANTHONOMUS-GRANDIS BOH (COLEOPTERA) IN BRAZIL

A southeastern strain of the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boh. (Col eoptera), was first detected in Brazil in 1983 in the state of Sao Pau lo (lat. 23-degrees S.); in July of the same year, another infestation was found in the northeast state of Paraiba (lat. 7-degrees S.). Disp ersal throughout the major cotton producing areas has been phenomenal. The spread was much more rapid in the northeast than in the south, pr obably because planting and stalk destruction was somewhat regulated i n the latter. Every cotton growing state in Brazil was infested by 199 1, and dispersal to Paraguay and Argentina has not occurred.