Washington, D. C. PROFESSIONAL PAPER July, 1922 
BIOLOGY OF THE LOTUS BORER (PYRAUSTA 
PENITALIS Grote). 
By GerorcE G. AINSLIE, Entomological Assistant, and W. B. CARTWRIGHT. Scien- 
tific Assistant, Cereal and Forage Insect Investigations, Bureau of Ento- 
mology. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. Page. 
IminodMNekory === sae eae ee 1 | Pupation of the second generation__ i 
SusteMmatienhishoiy | Lake teesee Se 7, N\A lev onnitss s(oues Le) Vey) JanYoys) nspeee ee Pk eee 8 
Studies at Knoxville, Tenn-_-_-__~_ Pe A BY a esa fey ago ila Aaa GRU GN CaS a 9 
aeemey Cle. Wel Pi tater sok eid Nye 4) | PE ood plants ah see Uyak Ue ae 10 
Feeding habits on the leaves__-___- Dra Ee m Te Qwilie saul 8 lee ee Ee 10 
Feeding habits on the pods -______~ Gr lateral emcite dpa eee ee acne 13 
Pupation of the first generation____ C 
INTRODUCTORY. 
In American literature two distinct species have been confused 
under the name Pyrausta penitalis Grote. One of them, the smart- 
weed borer, has recently been described as new under the name P. 
ainsliei by Carl Heinrich (761), of the Bureau of Entomology. The 
other, the lotus borer, described originally by Grote (7) and later 
redescribed by Smith (3) as Botis nelumbialis, has been casually 
studied by several observers, but up to the present time no complete 
account of its biology has been available. The two species are closely 
related and very similar, in many morphological and _ biological char- 
acters, to the recently introduced European corn borer, P. nubdlalis 
Hiibner. It seemed possible that a close study of the life history and 
habits of the two native species might bring to light some facts which 
would help in determining the potentialities of the new pest. In 
accordance with this plan the first paper dealing with P. atnsliec from 
the biological side has already been published (/8). The present 
paper deals with the similar aspects of P. penitalis. Both the results 
1 Reter:'nce is made by number (italic) to ‘ Literature cited,”’ p. 13. 
101477—22 
