Autumn migration of Mythimna separata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) over the Bohai Sea in northern China

The autumn migration of Mythimna separata (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) across the Bohai Sea was observed with a scanning entomological radar and a searchlight trap at Beihuang, an island located in the center of the Bohai Gulf of northern China, in 2003-2006. During the autumn migration, M. separata flew at the altitudes of 50-500 m, with a displacement speed of 4-12 m/s, toward the southwest. Variations of area density of the radar targets and of catches in the searchlight trap through the night indicated that the flight duration of M. separata was approximately 10 h. Based on these observations, M. separata that originated in northeastern China (i.e., Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang provinces and part of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region) could immigrate into eastcentral China and subsequently to southern China (i.e., Fujian, Guangdong, and Guangxi provinces) within a week for overwintering.     

The reproduction-flight syndrome and the inheritance of tethered-flight activity in the cotton-bollworm moth, Heliothis armigera

Abstract. To test the hypothesis that the flight activity of Heliothis armigera (Hiibner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) conforms to the 'oogenesis-fiight syndrome', female moths from India and Malawi were flight tested on nights 2, 4 and 6 after eclosion, using a tethered-flight technique. Maximum flight activity in the Indian strain occurred on night 2, that of the Malawian strain was not significantly different on the three nights of flight. This difference is explained by the Indian females reaching reproductive maturity c . 48 h before the Malawian females. The existence of a 'reproduction-flight syndrome' was confirmed by flight testing males and females of different maturity status on the fourth night after eclosion. Immature moths flew significantly more than did either mature-virgin or mature-mated moths. The inheritance of tethered-flight activity in a late-maturing line of Malawian H. armigera was investigated. Significant estimates of heritability, by offspring on mid-parent regressions, were obtained for both the total flight time (0.39 æ 0.083) and the longest flight (0.15 ± 0.058). The significance of such tethered-flight data to noctuid migration in the field is discussed, and the conclusion drawn that the current experimental design does not index migratory flight satisfactorily.     

东北地区粘虫的季节性迁飞行为(英文)

粘虫Mythimna separata是我国农业生产上的重要害虫, 为了明确其季节性迁飞行为参数, 本研究采用垂直监测昆虫雷达（vertical-looking radar, VLR）及相关辅助设备的长期自动观测, 结合基于GIS的大区环流和轨迹模拟, 调查分析了2005年东北地区粘虫季节性迁飞行为。结果表明： 粘虫在不同季节和夜间不同时间空中飞行高度具有明显差异, 空中飞行行为受气象条件尤其是空中风场影响较大; 春季和秋季主要借助气流运载进行大规模长距离迁飞, 夜间持续飞行时间可达9 h, 多数个体能完成整夜飞行, 春季迁飞高度主要在300~600 m, 秋季飞行高度相对较低主要在300 m以下和400~500 m。夏季雷达回波有明显的成层现象, 最高可达1 000 m, 主要集中在500 m和700 m两个高度层。轨迹分析显示： 5月29日由山东潍坊、 临沂等虫源地起飞的黏虫, 顺西南气流越海迁飞, 6月1日在气旋天气影响下, 在吉林省白城等地降落; 7月中旬主要为当地黏虫受对流天气影响进行短距离迁飞扩散; 9月11日虫源来自内蒙古呼伦贝尔, 顺西北气流向吉林省东南方向迁飞。研究结果为东北地区粘虫的有效防控提供了技术支撑。     

Northward migration of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and other moths in early summer observed with radar in northern China

The northward migration of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and other moths in early summer was observed with radar in 2001 and 2002 at Langfang, Hebei province, China. Migratory flights typically occurred at heights up to 1.2 km above ground level (AGL), and high density layer concentrations frequently formed at 200-300 m AGL. Adult moths of local populations took off at dusk and ceased flight approximately 0.5 h before sunrise with area density peaking approximately 35 min after dusk. A strong dumb-bell pattern of echoes on the plan position indicator screen, indicating collective orientation of the targets, was evident in 2001, when targets were typically moving toward the northeast and when layering was associated with a temperature inversion and maximum wind speed. By contrast, there was no notable dumb-bell pattern in 2002, when targets were moving toward the northwest. However, orientations calculated from target and wind velocities showed that downwind common orientation also was occurring in 2002 and that the direction varied with the wind direction. The probable sources of the H. armigera observed at Langfang were deduced to be Henan province in 2001 and Shandong province in 2002, and the destination regions were Liaoning and Inner Mongolia.     

Do bird captures reflect migration intensity? – Trapping numbers on an Alpine pass compared with radar counts

A limitation of standardized mist netting for monitoring migration is caused by the lack of knowledge about the relationship between trapped birds and birds flying aloft. Earlier studies related nocturnal radar counts with trapping data of the following day. In this study, we compared for the first time data gathered simultaneously by radar and mist netting, separately for diurnal and nocturnal migration. Trapping numbers were strongly correlated with migratory intensities measured by radar (r>0.6). A multiple regression analysis, including wind speed and wind direction explained 61% of variation in the number of captures. During the night, and particularly with favourable winds, birds flew at higher altitudes and hence escaped the nets to a higher proportion. The number of nocturnal migrants trapped during daytime was well correlated with migratory intensities observed by radar in the preceding night. The diurnal time patterns, however, revealed fundamental differences between trapping counts and radar observations. This was mainly due to increasing and decreasing flight altitudes in the course of the night, and by the limitations of the radar technique that underestimates migratory intensities during the day when birds aggregate in flocks. In relation to the migratory intensity recorded by radar, diurnal migrants are trapped in a much higher proportion than nocturnal migrants. Finally, our results confirm that trapping data from a site hardly used for stopover are well suited to represent the ongoing migration during the day and night.     

High-Altitude Windborne Transport of <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Helicoverpa armigera</Emphasis> (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Mid-Summer in Northern China

The high-altitude windborne transport of the second-generation moths of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) was observed with radar in July 2001 and 2002 at Langfang, Hebei province, China. Moths of local populations took off at dusk, with area density peaking ca. 0.5 h later. The variation of area density through the night suggested that the maximum flight duration was about 8.5 h. The moths generally ascended to altitudes of up to 1500 m above ground level (AGL) and formed layer concentrations at ca. 300, 500, and 1000 m AGL. Multiple layering was very common and layers were located at zones of maxima in wind speed or in wind shear rather than in temperature inversions. Both the displacement direction and the orientation of the insect were at an acute angle to the downwind direction, rather than being distributed at random, and varied as the wind direction changed. The windborne moths were mainly transported into northeastern China where maize at the silking stage would have provided good hosts for the subsequent (third) generation of H. armigera. These population movements may account for the nondevelopment of resistance to Bt cotton in H. armigera in northern China.     

草地螟2007年越冬代成虫迁飞行为研究与虫源分析

草地螟 Loxostege sticticalis L.是危害我国北方农牧业的一种重要迁飞性害虫,明确草地螟的虫源地及迁飞路线对其早期预警具有重要意义。本文利用垂直监测昆虫雷达的长期观测,迁飞高峰期雌虫卵巢解剖、大区环流分析、各地虫情信息收集和利用Hysplit_4模型进行轨迹分析,研究了2007年越冬代草地螟的空中迁飞行为和东北地区严重暴发的草地螟虫源。结果表明：6月7–9日,雷达观测点诱虫灯内草地螟具有典型迁飞昆虫生理特征;草地螟主要在夜间迁飞,飞行高度集中在300～500 m,400 m是主要飞行高度,迁飞高峰期夜间迁移可持续9 h。东北地区严重发生的草地螟虫源,一部分来自内蒙古乌盟地区,一部分来自蒙古共和国中东部及中俄边境地区。据此推测我国与国外草地螟存在虫源交流。     

粘虫成虫在气流场中飞行行为的观察研究

通过改进悬吊测飞技术、室内风洞和野外雷达相结合的观测方法,研究了粘虫在气流场中的飞行行为特征及其与气流的关系。直筒风洞自由飞行观测的结果表明,粘虫蛾对气流有明显行为反应,表现为头部迎风起飞和迎风飞行的特性;在3.0～5.5 m/s风速下,有92%～94% 的个体可一次逆风飞行通过2 m长的风洞;当风速≥6.0 m/s时,有71.9%的蛾子沿螺旋状的飞行轨迹逆风通过风洞。环形风洞悬吊飞行测试的结果表明,粘虫可逆风飞行的最大风速为7.2 m/s;在风速≤4 m/s条件下,90%以上个体头部迎风飞行或头部朝向与风向成一定的夹角,侧逆风飞行。 雷达观测发现粘虫在空中迁飞过程中具有成层现象,并有较强的秋季回迁定向行为,其头部总是朝向西南;迁飞的最终位移与风向及风速大小有关,迁飞位移速度是飞行速度与风速的矢量和。     

Wind selection and drift compensation optimize migratory pathways in a high-flying moth

Numerous insect species undertake regular seasonal migrations in order to exploit temporary breeding habitats [1]. These migrations are often achieved by high-altitude windborne movement at night [2-6], facilitating rapid long-distance transport, but seemingly at the cost of frequent displacement in highly disadvantageous directions (the so-called "pied piper" phenomenon [7]). This has lead to uncertainty about the mechanisms migrant insects use to control their migratory directions [8, 9]. Here we show that, far from being at the mercy of the wind, nocturnal moths have unexpectedly complex behavioral mechanisms that guide their migratory flight paths in seasonally-favorable directions. Using entomological radar, we demonstrate that free-flying individuals of the migratory noctuid moth Autographa gamma actively select fast, high-altitude airstreams moving in a direction that is highly beneficial for their autumn migration. They also exhibit common orientation close to the downwind direction, thus maximizing the rectilinear distance traveled. Most unexpectedly, we find that when winds are not closely aligned with the moth's preferred heading (toward the SSW), they compensate for cross-wind drift, thus increasing the probability of reaching their overwintering range. We conclude that nocturnally migrating moths use a compass and an inherited preferred direction to optimize their migratory track.     

Radar observations of the autumn migration of the beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and other moths in northern China

The autumn return migration of the beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua Hübner and other insects in northern China was observed with radar and with a simultaneously-operated searchlight trap and ground light-trap at a site in Langfang, near Beijing. The searchlight trap was found to be an efficient tool for trapping migrants and, operated alongside a ground light-trap, could distinguish migrant from locally-flying species. It was confirmed that S. exigua and some other species were high-altitude nocturnal windborne migrants during September and October in northern China. Maximum density of moths typically occurred below 500 m, and strong layering was often observed at about 200 m above ground level in airflows that would carry the moths towards the south. Descent of S. exigua in the vicinity of the radar site in late September was often associated with rain.     

Observations of the flight behaviour of the army worm moth, Spodoptera exempta, at an emergence site using radar and infra-red optical techniques

ABSTRACT.

• 1 Studies were made in Kenya of the flight behaviour of African armyworm moths which had emerged from areas previously infested with‘gregarious’caterpillars. The use of radar and an infra-red optical detector permitted quantitative, direct observations of the flying moths, over all of their flight altitudes, without disturbing their behaviour.
• 2 Almost all of the successfully emergent moths climbed to altitudes of several hundred metres above ground level and migrated from the emergence sites. Their migratory flights sometimes started on the night of emergence, but on other occasions the moths remained roosting in trees until dawn, then engaged in short dispersal flights, concealed themselves during the day. and commenced migration in mass flights at dusk the following night.
• 3 The onset of these‘dusk flights’occurred when the irradiance level fell on average to 2.7 × 10^?5Wm^?2 nm^?1 in the 450–800 nm range (in the photometric units appropriate for human vision this corresponds approximately to 2 lux). The‘dawn flights’began with the first sustained increase in irradiance at dawn, and terminated at the end of dawn twilight.
• 4 Migratory flight in the strong, easterly winds which usually occurred during the first half of the night resulted in rapid, down-wind displacement to the west. Observations of groups of flying moths passing successively over two radars demonstrated that these migrations could cover at least 20 km.
• 5 In the second half of the night, winds were usually weak and variable, and up-wind or cross-wind directions of displacement were sometimes observed.
• 6 Moths were observed to disperse rapidly during their migration, so that the mass influxes which lead to outbreaks must be a consequence of subsequent reconcentration. The importance of meso-scale wind convergence zones in reconcentrating flying moths, and the role of rainfall in inducing descent, and possibly landing, are discussed.

     

Synchronized oviposition triggered by migratory flight intensifies larval outbreaks of beet webworm

Identifying the reproductive consequences of insect migration is critical to understanding its ecological and evolutionary significance. However, many empirical studies are seemingly contradictory, making recognition of unifying themes elusive and controversial. The beet webworm, Loxostege sticticalis L. is a long-range migratory pest of many crops in the northern temperate zone from 36 °N to 55 °N, with larval populations often exploding in regions receiving immigrants. In laboratory experiments, we examined (i) the reproductive costs of migratory flight by tethered flight, and (ii) the reproductive traits contributing to larval outbreaks of immigrant populations. Our results suggest that the beet webworm does not initiate migratory flight until the 2nd or 3rd night after emergence. Preoviposition period, lifetime fecundity, mating capacity, and egg hatch rate for adults that experienced prolonged flight after the 2nd night did not differ significantly from unflown moths, suggesting these traits are irrelevant to the severity of beet webworm outbreaks after migration. However, the period of first oviposition, a novel parameter developed in this paper measuring synchrony of first egg-laying by cohorts of post-migratory females, for moths flown on d 3 and 5 of adulthood was shorter than that of unflown moths, indicating a tightened time-window for onset of oviposition after migration. The resulting synchrony of egg-laying will serve to increase egg and subsequent larval densities. A dense population offers potential selective advantages to the individual larvae comprising it, whereas the effect from the human standpoint is intensification of damage by an outbreak population. The strategy of synchronized oviposition may be common in other migratory insect pests, such as locust and armyworm species, and warrants further study.     

Effect of temperature and photoperiod on juvenile hormone biosynthesis and sexual maturation in the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera: implications for life history traits

The Israeli population of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), undergoes a short-day, low-temperature pupal diapause and is also suspected of being a seasonal migrant in the eastern Mediterranean region. H. armigera were reared in the laboratory under several constant temperature and photoperiodic combinations which simulate average conditions encountered in the spring, summer, early-autumn and late-autumn in Israel. Juvenile hormone (JH) biosynthesis, the onset of calling behavior, sex pheromone production and ovarian development were examined in virgin female moths subsequent to eclosion. Allatal maturation, defined as acquisition of competence to synthesize JH, was significantly delayed in moths reared under simulated spring conditions. This was probably the cause for the observed delay in ovarian development and the onset of calling behavior, and to the reduction in sex pheromone biosynthesis. The delay in female sexual maturation, commonly associated with migratory flight, is consistent with presumptive pre-reproductive migration in H. armigera.     

华北二点委夜蛾种群动态监测及北京北部地区虫源性质分析

二点委夜蛾Proxenus lepigone是玉米生产中的一种新发害虫, 2011年曾在黄淮海夏玉米主产区全面暴发, 对夏玉米生产构成严重威胁。为了明确二点委夜蛾的种群动态, 探讨北京北部二点委夜蛾种群是否为迁入虫源, 2012年, 在华北地区的河北省栾城县、 北京市区和北京延庆县等地, 利用高空探照灯诱虫器、 垂直监测昆虫雷达等对二点委夜蛾成虫进行了监测, 并结合气象资料, 对北京延庆的虫源性质进行了综合分析。结果表明： 二点委夜蛾老熟幼虫作茧后可在北京延庆越冬。2012年, 北京延庆诱集二点委夜蛾累计33 951头, 可划分为3个世代。第1代成虫的诱集数量不符合正态分布, 且在姊妹灯下的数量差异符合迁飞种类的特点。在当地条件不适宜的情况下, 北京延庆监测点第1代成虫日均诱虫数量高于条件相对适宜的河北栾城。在北京延庆, 第1代成虫的逐日诱集数量与空中风向密切相关。雷达监测还表明二点委夜蛾可能是雷达回波的目标。综合以上证据表明, 北京延庆第1代成虫包含从周边迁飞而来的个体, 二点委夜蛾可能是一种兼性迁飞昆虫。本研究可为二点委夜蛾成虫能否远距离迁飞提供例证, 对今后提高其预测预报和防治水平具有重要意义。     

Trajectory modeling revealed a southwest-northeast migration corridor for fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) emerging from the North China Plain

The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda, an invasive insect pest native to the Americas, has established populations throughout eastern China. The North China Plain—a key corn-producing area in East China with a unique topography—was invaded by fall armyworm in 2019 and is seriously threatened by this migratory pest. However, the spatiotemporal extent of the migratory movements of fall armyworm from the North China Plain remains poorly understood. Using an air transport-based trajectory modeling approach that incorporates flight behavior, we simulated the potential nocturnal migration trajectories of fall armyworm from the North China Plain based on historical meteorological data from June to October of 2015–2019, and examined the night-time atmospheric conditions associated with their possible flights. The emigration patterns showed monthly variation in the main landing area and common migration direction. The displacement of newly emerged moths from the North China Plain was concentrated in the Northeast China Plain (including Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces) before late summer, after which they were most likely to undertake return flights to the south (especially into Hubei, Anhui and Hunan provinces). This southwest-northeast aerial migration corridor follows the topography of East China and is affected by the East Asian monsoon. These topographic-atmospheric conditions have resulted in the North China Plain becoming a key stopover for fall armyworm populations engaging in multigenerational long-distance migration across East China. These findings contribute to our knowledge of fall armyworm migration and will aid in the implementation of management and control strategies against this highly migratory agricultural pest.     

2010年牧区2代草地螟成虫迁飞的虫源分析

草地螟(Loxostege sticticalis L.)是危害我国北方农牧区的重要迁飞性害虫,明确其迁飞、扩散规律以及与境外虫源交流情况,对早期预警和有效防治具有重要意义。2010年6月1日至9月17日,利用垂直监测昆虫雷达的观测资料,结合探照灯和地面灯灯诱虫情、迁飞高峰期雌虫卵巢解剖、区域大气环流形势和迁飞轨迹分析,在内蒙古锡林浩特西郊研究了牧区2代草地螟的迁飞过程,结果表明:2010年牧区2代草地螟迁飞高峰期出现在2010年8月8日至8月21日,高峰日为8月11日,高峰日探照灯诱虫量达9167头,卵巢发育级别以1—2级为主,高峰日雷达回波主要集中在300—400 m。轨迹分析显示:迁飞高峰期8月8日、8月10—12日牧区草地螟迁飞虫源主要来自蒙古共和国东南部及中蒙边境地区,由蒙古气旋西南侧的西北气流输送进入我国内蒙古锡林郭勒盟,再随西南气流迁入呼伦贝尔草原。     

五种迁飞蛾类及非迁飞近似种前翅形状的数值分析

以翅面正投影周缘曲率为指标,对五种蛾类迁飞昆虫及与其近似的非迁飞昆虫的前翅翅形进行数值分析。结果表明,二者之间存在可以相互区别的差异：迁飞种类前翅前缘较平直,特别是前缘1/2处到翅尖的平均曲率绝对值显著小于非迁飞种类;而后缘1/2处到翅尖的平均曲率绝对值偏大,即这段后缘较弯曲,向外凸出,使翅外侧较宽阔。这种翅形特征较适合于利用气流进行远距离迁飞     

Nocturnal migration of dragonflies over the Bohai Sea in northern China

Abstract.  1. A sudden increase and subsequent sharp decrease of catches of dragonflies in a searchlight trap, with Pantala flavescens Fabricius (Odonata: Libellulidae) predominating, observed at Beihuang Island in the centre of the Bohai Gulf, in 2003 and 2004, indicated a seasonal migration of these insects over the sea during the night in China. The movements were associated with the onset of fog.
2. Simultaneous radar observations indicated that the nocturnally migrating dragonflies generally flew at altitudes of up to 1000 m above sea level, with high density concentrations at about 200–300 or 500 m; these concentrations were coincident with the temperature inversion.
3. During early summer, the dragonflies oriented in a downwind direction, so that the displacement direction varied between different altitudes. In contrast, during late summer, the dragonflies were able to compensate for wind drift, even headwind drift, so as to orient south-westward no matter how the wind changed, and thus the displacement direction was towards the south-west.
4. The duration of flight, estimated from the variation of area density derived from radar data and hourly catches in the searchlight trap through the night, was about 9–10 h. The displacement speed detected using radar was ≈5–11 m s⁻¹. Therefore, the dragonflies might migrate 150–400 km in a single flight.
5. The dragonflies were thought to originate in Jiangsu province and they migrated into north-east China to exploit the temporary environment of paddy fields in early summer. Their offspring probably migrated back south during late summer and autumn.     

Downwind migration of the African army worm moth, Spodoptera exempta, studied by mark-and-capture and by radar

Abstract. 1. About 166,000 African armyworm moths, Spodoptera exempta (Walk.), were marked at an emergence site near Nairobi when they fed at night on trees baited with dyed molasses.
2. Six marked moths were captured in pheromone traps, including one at 90 km after flying for only one night, and another at 147 km.
3. Moth flight trajectories deduced from radar and from marking showed that migration was downwind.
4. During migration, moths become dispersed; hence the high densities that lead to outbreaks must be produced by concentration.
5. Some moths were ready to mate on the same night they completed their long-distance flight.     

Regulation of the seasonal population patterns of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicoverpa armigera</Emphasis> moths by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bt</Emphasis> cotton planting

Transgenic cotton expressing the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry1Ac toxin has been commercially cultivated in China since 1997, and by 2000 Bt cotton had almost completely replaced non-transgenic cotton cultivars. To evaluate the impact of Bt cotton planting on the seasonal population patterns of cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, the dynamics of H. armigera moths were monitored with light traps from four locations (Xiajin, Linqing and Dingtao of Shandong Province; Guantao of Hebei Province) in high Bt density region and five locations (Anci and Xinji of Hebei Province; Dancheng and Fengqiu of Henan Province; Gaomi of Shandong Province) in low Bt density region from 1996 to 2008. A negative correlation was found between moth densities of H. armigera and the planting years of Bt cotton in both high and low Bt density areas. These data indicate that the moth population density of H. armigera was reduced with the introduction of Bt cotton in northern China. Three generations of moths occurred between early June and late September in the cotton regions. Interestingly, second-generation moths decreased and seemed to vanish in recent years in high Bt density region, but this tendency was not found in low Bt density region. The data suggest that the planting of Bt cotton in high Bt density region was effective in controlling the population density of second-generation moths. Furthermore, the seasonal change of moth patterns associated with Bt cotton planting may regulate the regional occurrence and population development of this migratory insect.