Which insect larva fed on cotton crops and decimated cotton production in the southeastern United States?

• A. Boll Weevil
• B. Armyworm
• C. Cotton Bollworm
• D. Locust

Answer: (A)

The crucial idea here is recognizing a pest whose larval stage directly damages cotton bolls, leading to huge crop losses. The boll weevil fits this perfectly: its larvae develop inside cotton bolls and feed on the developing seeds and fiber, destroying the boll and greatly reducing yield. This insect became infamous in the United States for spreading through the Southeast and decimating cotton production in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which is why it’s the best match for the scenario described. The other insects don’t share that specific history or feeding pattern on cotton: armyworms are general feeders and don’t symbolize the Southeastern cotton crisis; the cotton bollworm damages cotton too but isn’t the emblematic pest tied to that historic devastation; locusts can devastate crops, but they aren’t the insect most associated with the cotton disaster in that region.