Boll weevil infestations in the Laveen Arizona area advanced to a point that a cooperative grower group was organized in 1986 to combat the injury and spread of this serious pest. In 1982 there were no Laveen reports of trapped weevils but in 1983 weevils were known to have infested 200 acres. By 1985 approximately 75 percent of the fields were infested and some fields lost one quarter to one bale of lint in the severest section. Two growers made 22 applications of insecticide in some fields and asked for Extension assistance.

The Laveen area lies between a large, dry riverbed and mountain foothills. Small farms, pastures, small orchards, weedy fence rows and desert strips are interspersed within or adjoining the farm area providing many harbors for overwintering boll weevils. Infestation levels of boll weevils in this area were far heavier in 1985 than other areas near Phoenix, Arizona.