December, ’18] 
CHITTENDEN: LOTUS BORER 
'455 
In the summer of 1889 Dr. J. B. Smith received specimens from 
Bordentown, N. J., where the caterpillar was feeding in the flower- 
stems and leaves, buds, flowers, and seed capsules of the Egyptian 
lotus. Assuming it to be a new species, a technical article was pub¬ 
lished on the insect under the caption “ A New Species of Botis/’ 1 and 
a popular one entitled “An enemy to the Egyptian Lotus.” 2 The 
former includes a description of the species, as Botis nelumbialis n. sp., 
and of the mature larva. Both articles are illustrated with a figure of 
the moth, showing two color varieties, and of the larva with details. 
August 28, 1890, we received larvae from Mr. F. W. Thurow, Hock¬ 
ley, Tex., found feeding on the leaves and boring into the stems of 
Nelumbium luteum ( — Nelumbo lutea). 
November 31, 1891, we received from Mr. F. F. Crevecoeur, Onaga, 
Kan., pieces of the stalk of a late variety of corn (shown in pi. 16, fig. 3) 
which contained larvae that were ultimately reared, the moths issuing 
the year following, March 12 and April 2. 
The moths issued from June 4 to 14. One larva transformed to 
pupa May 16 and to adult June 2, in cool weather, having been in the 
pupal stage seventeen days. Another pupated June 3 and trans¬ 
formed to adult June 14, having passed eleven days as pupa; weather 
warm and sultry during the latter period. 
As previously stated the finding of this species in abundance in the 
stems of raspberry led to the impression that the larva was injurious 
to that plant, and as a consequence a considerable number of specimens 
and infested canes were gathered for study. That this assumption 
was natural it will only be necessary to state that sketches were pre¬ 
pared at the time of the receipt of this species and its subsequent 
rearing in corn, and that the impression was an erroneous one is proved 
by the fact that there is no evidence that the species feeds on either 
healthy corn or raspberry, although it feeds on the pith to a consider- 
erable extent, but on the contrary develops chiefly upon lotus and 
other aquatic or semiaquatic plants and enters cornstalks and the cut 
ends of raspberry canes chiefly as a retreat for passing the winter and 
for subsequent transformation. 
Summary of Life History and Habits 
From available sources including the accounts of Smith and Hart, 
and from analogy, an approximate life history may be summarized as 
follows: 
The species hibernates in the larval stage, the first moths issuing 
from March until June, according to locality. The eggs and place of 
1 Entomologica, Americana, Vol. VI, pp. 88-90, 1890. 
2 Garden and Forest, Feb. 19, 1890, p. 88. 
