The boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman was first found in Brazil in 1983. Since that time it has infested more than 70% of the states that produce cotton. The insect has adapted very well to the hot-dry equatorial regions of northeast Brazil. The adults in this area enter into a firm state of diapause and survival during the non-growing season is high. This contrasts with the states of sdo Paulo and Parand in the southern part of the country where very few adults enter firm diapause. The predominant state during the non-growing season is the intermediate diapause state and survival is low. This low rate of survival and a well organized cultural control program has resulted in relatively low yield losses.

In the northeast there are no organized cultural control programs and losses have made cotton production difficult. However, in IPM test areas where sound cultural and production practices are implemented, the weevil populations are manageable and yield losses are averted.