Noctuidae 361 



References 



Family Lasiocampidae 



For the rearing of Malacosoma see p. 365. 

 Family Lymantriidae 



For the rearing of Notolophus, and Hemerocampa see p. 365. 



Family noctuidae 



THE COLUMBINE AND IRIS BORERS 



Grace H. Griswold, Cornell University 



DURING a study of the columbine borer (Papaipema pur pur i fascia) 

 and the iris borer (Macronoctua onusta) it was found to be almost 

 impossible to tell the sexes apart in living adults, but an examination of 

 cast pupal skins revealed that the genital opening in the female pupa is 

 further cephalad than is that in the male pupa. This fact made it easy to 

 differentiate the sexes in the pupal stage. 



The rearing work was carried on in an outdoor cage. Full grown 

 larvae of both species were collected and placed in individual salve boxes 

 with damp sphagnum. When pupation occurred each pupa was examined 

 to determine the sex and then removed to a jelly glass with the sex marked 

 on the cover. Each jelly glass contained, in addition to some damp 

 sphagnum, a piece of wire netting about 3 inches long and % of an inch 

 wide. This netting rested on the bottom of the jelly glass and extended 

 up the side nearly to the top. Almost without exception, every adult 

 that emerged walked up the netting and rested there until its wings were 

 spread. Since the sex of each moth had already been determined it was a 

 simple matter to place pairs of moths in individual cages. 



The most satisfactory cage used for the columbine borers was a 

 cylindrical glass cage 12 inches high and 5% inches in diameter with a 

 piece of cheesecloth tied over the top. Each cage rested on a circle of 

 paper toweling placed in a large shallow saucer. A wide-mouthed bottle 

 held the columbine foliage. About each bottle was wrapped a piece of 

 wire netting to provide a rough surface on which the moths could easily 

 walk. A long strip of absorbent cotton extended to the bottom of the 

 bottle, the upper end being wrapped several times around the petiole of 

 the columbine leaf. The cotton acted as a wick and the part at the top 

 of the bottle was always wet. Thus the moths were constantly supplied 

 with drinking water. 



Pairs of iris borer moths were placed in the same type of cylindrical 

 glass breeding cage. To insure an adequate food supply each cage was 

 also provided with a small watch glass of the Plant Industry type, con- 

 taining a s r < solution of dextrose in water. Fitted into the top of each 



