Texas FFA Entomology CDE 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The Boll Weevil is recognized as a pest that falls within the order Coleoptera, which is known for insects that possess hardened forewings and undergo complete metamorphosis (holometabolism). This classification indicates that the Boll Weevil develops through distinct life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

The adult Boll Weevil has a chewing mouthpart, which is characteristic of many Coleoptera. This feeding type allows it to damage cotton plants by chewing through the plant tissues, contributing to its classification as a significant pest in agricultural settings.

Understanding the specific traits of this pest is crucial, especially considering its impact on crops such as cotton. The classification also helps differentiate it from other insects, such as the beet armyworm, which belongs to a different order and has a different life cycle type, and from the blow fly and big-eyed bug, which have distinct mouthparts and developmental patterns. The emphasis on the chewing mechanism underlines the unique feeding behavior that poses economic challenges in agriculture, particularly for cotton farmers affected by the Boll Weevil.