It is known that substantial boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman, populations survive subtropical winters in some habitats, such as citrus orchards. Our study shows that endocarps of the fruit from prickly pear cactus, Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex. Engel.; and orange, Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck. can sustain newly-emerged adult boll weevil for more than five months, which is the duration of the cotton-free season in the subtropical Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., and the boll weevil occur in the same areas with one or both plant species from South Texas to Argentina. These alternate food sources make it possible for boll weevils, active year-round in the subtropics, to survive from one cotton growing season to the next.