Behavioral and electrophysiological responses of Helicoverpa assulta, H. armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), their F1 hybrids and backcross progenies to sex pheromone component blends

Two sibling species, Helicoverpa assulta and Helicoverpa armigera both use (Z)-9-hexadecenal and (Z)-11-hexadecenal as their sex pheromone components but in almost reversed ratios, 93:7 and 3:97, respectively. H. assulta and H. armigera males performed upwind flight in response to the H. assulta sex pheromone blend (93:7). H. armigera responded strongly to the H. armigera blend (3:97), whereas H. assulta males remained inactive upon exposure to this blend. Both species gave clear dose-dependent electrophysiological responses to (Z)-11-hexadecenal. However, (Z)-9-hexadecenal evoked strong dose-dependent electrophysiological responses in H. assulta males but not in H. armigera. The two male F₁ hybrids exhibited similar behavioral responses to two sex pheromone blends and electrophysiological responses to two pheromone components as H. armigera males. This indicated that H. armigera genes appear dominant in determining the behavioral response and electrophysiological responses. Behavioral and electrophysiological responses of backcrosses of male F₁ hybrids (H. armigera female × H. assulta male) with female H. assulta and H. armigera were close to that of H. assulta and H. armigera, respectively. However, backcrosses of female F₁ hybrids (H. assulta female × H. armigera male) with male H. assulta and H. armigera showed reduced behavioral responses but normal electrophysiological responses compared to males of the respective parental line.