boll weevil
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun A small, greyish beetle (scientific name: Anthonomus grandis) that is a major agricultural pest. The adult weevil lays its eggs inside cotton flower buds (squares) and bolls. The hatched larvae feed on the developing cotton, destroying the fibers and seeds.
Usage
The term "boll weevil" is used specifically to refer to this insect species, primarily in agricultural, economic, and historical contexts related to cotton farming.
Examples * The boll weevil infestation devastated the cotton crop across the southern United States in the early 20th century. * Farmers implemented crop rotation to control the spread of the boll weevil. * Entomologists study the life cycle of the boll weevil to develop better pest management strategies.
Advanced Usage
- Historical/Economic Context: The term is often used to symbolize a catastrophic agricultural pest or an external force that causes severe economic disruption to a region dependent on a single crop.
- The economic impact of the boll weevil was so profound that it forced many farmers to diversify their crops.
Variants and Related Words
- Weevil (noun): A broader term for a type of beetle, many of which are pests that infest grains, nuts, and other crops. The boll weevil is a specific type of weevil.
- Cotton boll (noun): The rounded seed capsule of the cotton plant where the boll weevil lays its eggs.
Synonyms
- Cotton pest
- Agricultural pest
- Insect pest (specific to cotton)
Related Phrases/Idioms
- "Boll weevil" in politics: In U.S. political history, "Boll Weevil Democrats" was a term for conservative Democratic Party members, primarily from the South, who often voted with Republicans in the late 20th century. The metaphor suggests these politicians were "pests" to the mainstream Democratic agenda.
- During the 1980s, the Reagan administration often relied on votes from Boll Weevil Democrats to pass legislation.
Noun
- greyish weevil that lays its eggs in cotton bolls destroying the cotton