The UAM Boll Weevil mascot is a beloved symbol of the University of Arkansas at Monticello. The Boll Weevils are the athletic teams representing UAM, participating in various sports such as football, basketball, baseball, and more. The Boll Weevil mascot is known for its unique and eye-catching costume, which features a giant boll weevil insect. The insect is dressed in UAM colors, including blue and green. The mascot can be seen cheering on the teams during games and events, bringing excitement and energy to the crowd. The choice of the boll weevil as UAM's mascot holds historical significance.
What to Know About Boll Weevils
It’s hard to imagine a bug as small as the boll weevil could cause such problems, but these tiny little critters nearly crashed the economy. Weevils are a type of beetle, and boll weevils, particularly, eat cotton plants. While not native to the U.S., they made their way here and made their presence known in a big way. A joint effort between farmers, the federal government, and scientists have gotten rid of most of them, but they still pop up now and then.
The choice of the boll weevil as UAM's mascot holds historical significance. The boll weevil is an insect that caused substantial damage to the cotton industry in the southern United States during the early 20th century. However, the mascot represents resilience and the ability to overcome challenges.
What Is a Boll Weevil?
Boll weevils (Anthonomus grandis) are small, unobtrusive beetles that cause big problems.
Boll weevils eat cotton and can destroy cotton crops. Native to Mexico, they first showed up in Texas in 1892. It’s unknown how they traveled north, as these beetles don’t fly very far. They spread quickly, though: a single pair can make 2 million offspring in one season. Within their first five years in the U.S., boll weevils had caused a 50% decline in cotton production.
By 1920, boll weevils covered 600,000 square miles in the southeastern U.S. Farmers tried everything they could think of to eradicate these pests. At one point, one-third of pesticides used in the U.S. were used for killing boll weevils.
For decades, the boll weevil continued to destroy cotton crops. Finally, in 1958, the National Cotton Council of America decided on legislation to expand cotton research and eliminate boll weevils. It was the first time the council had unanimously agreed on a piece of farm legislation.
Getting rid of boll weevils had already proved it wouldn't be an easy task, and there was a long road ahead. No one had ever tried to eradicate a crop pest like this before. The whole project would be expensive, and they would need funding from the federal government. And perhaps most importantly, no one had figured out how to get rid of the boll weevil.
The first technique used was the sterile insect technique, developed by a United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) scientist named Edward Knipling. He’d successfully used the sterile insect technique, which involved releasing sterile male insects on screwworms. Unfortunately, this strategy didn’t work for the boll weevils.
Federal and state governments, together with cotton foundations and associations, poured millions of dollars into researching boll weevil eradication. The first breakthrough was the discovery of boll weevil pheromones, which were used to lure and trap the pests. They also determined that boll weevil development and reproduction slowed during low temperatures. By applying insecticide multiple times at short intervals, scientists found they could reduce and limit over-winter survival of boll weevils. Scientists named this the “reproductive-diapause control method.”
Thanks to cooperation between farmers, government officials, and scientists, boll weevils have been largely defeated. They’ve been completely eradicated from:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Florida
- Georgia
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- New Mexico
- North and South Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
Boll weevils have popped up occasionally in Louisiana, but the state is mostly boll-weevil-free. Texas continues to drive the boll weevils back, but they aren’t completely eradicated yet.
The UAM Boll Weevil mascot serves as a reminder of the university's dedication to overcoming obstacles and achieving success. It represents the spirit and determination of the athletes and students. It is a symbol of pride and unity for the UAM community. In conclusion, the UAM Boll Weevil mascot is a recognizable and cherished symbol of the university. It represents resilience, determination, and success. It brings energy and excitement to games and events, serving as a source of pride for the UAM community..
Reviews for "Uam the Boll Weevil: The secret weapon of UAM's sports teams"
1. Jennifer - 2 stars - The Uam boll weevil mascot was definitely not what I expected. It was not cute or endearing in any way. The costume looked cheap and poorly made, and the character itself was quite creepy. It did not have the ability to interact with the crowd effectively, and overall, it seemed like a wasted effort. I was really disappointed with the mascot and felt that it did not add any value to the event.
2. Mark - 1 star - I found the Uam boll weevil mascot to be extremely annoying. Its presence was more of a distraction than anything else. The costume was impractical and hindered the mascot's movements, making it difficult for it to engage with the audience. Additionally, the concept of a boll weevil as a mascot was bizarre and did not resonate with me at all. Overall, I thought the mascot was a poor choice and did not enhance the event in any way.
3. Rebecca - 2 stars - I was not impressed with the Uam boll weevil mascot. It looked outdated and reminded me of something from the 90s. The design lacked creativity and failed to capture the essence of a mascot. The character's movements were stiff and the costume didn't seem to fit properly, making it even more unappealing. It felt like a missed opportunity to have a more engaging and exciting mascot for the event.