Ostrinia penitalis

Grote, 1876

American lotus borer

Ostrinia penitalis, commonly known as the American lotus borer, is a in the Crambidae described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1876. It has a broad geographic distribution spanning from Mexico through Central America to Amazonas, Brazil, as well as across much of North America from Quebec to British Columbia and throughout most of the United States. The is associated with wetland , particularly marshes and pondsides.

Ostrinia penitalis P1110850a by
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- 4946 – Ostrinia penitalis - American lotus borer by Wildreturn. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Ostrinia penitalis: /ɒsˈtriːniə pɛnɪˈtɑːlɪs/

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Identification

The can be distinguished from the () by geographic range and plant associations; O. penitalis is native to the Americas and associated with aquatic and wetland plants, whereas O. nubilalis is a Palearctic species introduced to North America that specializes on corn and other crops. The small wingspan of approximately 21 mm and association with Nelumbo lutea and Polygonum species may aid in field identification.

Images

Appearance

have a wingspan of approximately 21 mm. Larvae possess a brownish .

Habitat

Marshes and pondsides. The is strongly associated with wetland environments containing its larval plants.

Distribution

Mexico through Central America to Amazonas, Brazil. In North America: Quebec to British Columbia and most of the United States. Specific records include Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan in Canada.

Seasonality

have been recorded on wing from May to September in the northern part of the range.

Diet

Larvae feed on Nelumbo lutea (American lotus) and Polygonum .

Host Associations

Nelumbo lutea - larval food plant
Polygonum - larval food plant not specified

Ecological Role

Larval herbivore on aquatic and semi-aquatic plants. The specialized association with Nelumbo lutea suggests a role in regulating of this aquatic plant in wetland .

Human Relevance

The "American lotus borer" reflects its association with Nelumbo lutea, though it is not considered a significant agricultural pest. Unlike the congeneric (), which is a major crop pest, O. penitalis appears to have limited economic impact on cultivated plants.

Similar Taxa

Ostrinia nubilalisBoth are congeneric crambid with similar , but O. nubilalis is larger (wingspan 25-30 mm), a Palearctic native introduced to North America, and a major pest of corn and other crops rather than a on aquatic plants.

More Details

Subspecies

Three are recognized: Ostrinia penitalis penitalis (nominate subspecies), Ostrinia penitalis brasiliensis Mutuura & Munroe, 1970 (Brazil), and Ostrinia penitalis rubrifusa (Hampson, 1913) (Jamaica).