Tethered flight of the potato moth, Phthorimaea operculella

ABSTRACT. The effects of sex, age and mated state on average flight speed, duration and distance were determined for potato moths, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae), tethered to flight mills. Moths were classified as non-fliers (NFs), good-fliers (GFs) and remaining-fliers (RFs) on the basis of their performance over the first two flights. Some moths flew for over 5 h non-stop, while others tethered overnight flew between 20 and 30 km. Speed, duration and distance flown were greater during the first flight. First flight duration and distance flown by females decreased with age, whereas no trend was evident for males. Mated males and females flew slower first flights with increasing age, whereas virgin moths showed no marked trend. The analysis of fliers and NFs revealed that GFs were heavier than both RFs and NFs, GFs were faster than RFs, the percentage of NFs increased with age especially for mated females, and the percentage of GFs decreased with age. Age and mated state are important factors influencing flight performance especially for female moths. The relevance of these results to the field situation and the possible application of tethered flight to tests of potato moth quality are discussed.     

Attraction of the cabbage looper to host plants and host plant odor in the laboratory

In a laboratory flight tunnel, mated female, unmated female, and male adult cabbage loopers, Trichoplusia ni (Hübner), exhibited chemically mediated anemotaxis (attraction) in response to intact potted cabbage plants (Brassica oleracea L.), leading to contact with the plant. Similar attraction responses were also observed by mated females to potted soybean (Glycine max (L.)), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Miller), and celery (Apium graveolens L.) plants in noncompetitive comparisons. Mated females, unmated females, and males flew to cabbage plants throughout the scotophase. Response rates for mated females were higher than for unmated females and males. Mated female cabbage loopers were attracted by odors of cabbage, soybean, tomato, or celery piped into a flight tunnel from single plants held in glass jars and not to odors of the non-host plant Setcreasea purpurea, or to humidified air. They were also attracted to water washings of cabbage at dosages of 0.4 to 2.0 gram equivalents, when presented on cotton dental wicks in the flight tunnel.     

Interrelation of mating,flight, and fecundity in navel orangeworm females

The navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae, Phycitini), is an economically important pest of nut crops in California, USA. Improved management will require better understanding of insect dispersal, particularly relative to when mating occurs. A previous study demonstrated a more robust laboratory flight capacity compared to other orchard moth pests, but it was unclear how mating affects dispersal, and how dispersal affects fecundity. In this study, 1‐ and 2‐day‐old females were allowed to fly overnight on a flight mill either before or after mating, respectively, and were then allowed to oviposit. Data on fecundity were compared between treatments to minimally handled or tethered‐only control females. Females that mated before flight flew longer and covered a greater distance than those flying prior to mating. However, timing of flight relative to mating did not affect fecundity, nor did any measure of flight performance. There was no effect on fecundity when females were forced to fly for designated durations from 3 min to 2 h. Together, our data revealed no obvious trade‐off between flight activity and reproductive output. Distances measured on the flight mills (mean ca. 15 km for mated females) may overestimate net displacement in the field where flight tracks are often meandering. The results suggest that most females mate and oviposit in or near their natal habitat, but that some may disperse potentially long distances to oviposit elsewhere.     

Weight Loading and Reproductive Status Affect the Flight Performance of Pieris napi Butterflies

Weight-induced mobility reductions can have dramatic fitness consequences and winged animals are especially sensitive to the trade-off between mass and locomotion. Data on how natural weight fluctuations influence a flying insect’s ability to take off are scarce. We therefore quantified take-off flight ability in Pieris napi butterflies in relation to reproductive status. Take-off flight ability (velocity and take-off angle) under suboptimal temperature conditions was recorded with a 3D-tracking camera system and was predicted to decrease with relatively larger weight loads. Our results show that relatively larger weight loads generally reduce flight speed in male butterflies and lower take-off angles in females. However, despite having a lower wing loading, mated male butterflies flew slower than unmated males. Our study suggests that retention of weight loads associated with reproduction impairs insect flight performance.     

Flight behavior of the bean bug,Riptortus clavatus (Thunberg) (Hemiptera: Alydidae), relative to adult age,sex and season

Studies related to the flight behavior of the bean bug, Riptortus clavatus, an insect pest of soybean, provide information, which can aid the development of management tactics. R. clavatus flight activities were determined using the tethered flight technique in the laboratory and a field study. We compared the flight parameters (flight distance, duration, speed and frequency) of laboratory-reared mated or unmated females and males of different adult age groups, and field-collected females and males from different seasons in a year. Mating effect was only significant for flight frequency, which was higher for unmated adults. Only the flight frequency was different between females and males. Among age groups, 25 d old individuals were shown to have higher flight parameters while the 35 or 45 d old groups showed the lower flight. Among the season, flight activities decreased as the season progressed. The flight distance of R. clavatus in a day was estimated to be 1.6–5.1 km with an average speed of 0.8 m/s from the laboratory data. However, from the field study, it was shown that bean bugs flew a 45–54 m distance with a flight speed of 3.0–3.6 m/s for the first single flight. The second flight was much shorter and slower. We discuss the possible difference of flight parameters between the laboratory and field studies with features of flight mill, variable field conditions and host plant finding behaviors. Further study on flight behavior may provide a better understanding of R. clavatus biology which may guide proper management.     

Sexual differences in the flight performance of the oriental fruit moth, Cydia molesta

Cydia molesta Busck (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a major pest of stone fruits and an increasingly important late season pest of apple, is predominately monitored by pheromone trapping of male moths. We investigated flight performance in relation to sex, age, and mating status using computer-linked flight mills, and also examined the relationship between female flight and reproduction. The crepuscular flight pattern of the experimental moths in relation to photointensity was very similar to that reported from field studies. Female moths significantly outperformed males in all measured flight parameters including total distance flown, distance of longest single flight, and velocity. The proportion of long-flying females (categorised as those completing an unbroken flight of greater than 1 km) was three to six times greater than that of males. Female flight performance was not related to mating status, but mated males displayed significantly greater flight than unmated males. The maximal flight period of mated females commenced on the third day after eclosion, following 30% egg deposition. Male flight was not significantly related to age. The data suggest that a limited proportion of the population, in particular females, may have the capacity to make inter-orchard flights. The limitations of monitoring C. molesta populations in apple orchards solely by pheromone trapping of males are discussed.     

Flight potential of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Microplitis mediator</Emphasis>, a parasitoid of various lepidopteran pests

The efficacy of using natural enemies to control pests under field conditions largely depends on their mobility and, more specifically, on their capacity to quickly locate pest infestation. For many natural enemies, for example parasitoids, mobility is directly related to flight aptitude, which is determined by the capacity and inclination of a species to engage in flight. In this study, we determined the various factors that affected flight performance of Microplitis mediator (Haliday) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), using a computer-monitored flight mill. No differences were found in flight performance (i.e., flight distance, duration, speed) between both sexes of M. mediator, and flight capacity increased up to an age of 5–7 days followed by a gradual decline afterwards. For one-day-old female parasitoids, mean (±SE) flight distance and duration were 6.23 ± 0.88 km and 85.15 ± 14.44 min, respectively, with a maximum flight distance of 18.0 km. For male parasitoids, mean flight distance and duration were 5.27 ± 0.51 km and 85.74 ± 7.63 min, respectively. Mating status did not affect flight performance of males, while flight distance of four-day-old ovipositing M. mediator females was much lower than that of un-mated females of the same age. Un-mated adults flew most actively at 22–24°C and inclination to fly gradually declined with decreasing temperature. Temperatures above 26°C considerably reduced flight activity of M. mediator. Wasps engaged in normal flight under a broad range of relative humidity (RH) conditions, with an optimum RH range identified as 75–90%. Our research shows that M. mediator is a highly active parasitoid, because both sexes show great inclination to fly under a range of environmental conditions and flight capacity at different ages. Our results can help explain parasitoid performance in the field and provide baseline information to help guide augmentative releases. Handling editor: Dirk Babendreier.     

Modulation of Flight Activity in Lobesia botrana Den. & Schiff. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) Females Studied in a Wind Tunnel

We studied modulations of flight activity in European grapevine moth females (EGVM) by individual observations in a wind tunnel. The effect of different factors was analyzed: variation in atmospheric pressure prior to the experiments, time of day, first experience of flight, age, mating, and odor of tansy, which attracts females. The circadian flight activity showed a peak the hour preceding the onset of scotophase and sustained activity occurred during the 6 h around this peak. Females with a flight experience in the tunnel took off more quickly than naive ones (3.9 ± 7.4 vs 20.3 ± 22.8 s). Three-day-old unmated females subjected to negative variations of atmospheric pressure (10 hPa) during the 4 h prior to the experiments increased their duration of flight (12.1 ± 8.7 vs 5.3 ± 3.4 s) compared to those not subjected to variation. One-day-old females were less active than older ones; flight was shorter than in 2-day-old females (2.7 ± 6.7 vs 5.1 ± 9.5 s) and fewer of them took off (28 vs 63%). Mating also affected the flight activity of 2-day-old females; mated females flew longer than virgins (12 ± 16.8 vs 5.1 ± 9.5 s) and took off more quickly (6.5 ± 14.4 vs 19.3 ± 20.1 s). Tansy odor in the tunnel did not significantly affect the flight behavior of virgin females, but it increased the proportion of mated females that initiated flight (87 vs 70%) and duration of flight (11.2 ± 24.4 vs 7.2 ± 13.7 s), and it reduced the latency to takeoff (2.1 ± 7.4 vs 8.1 ± 19.1 s). Flight duration in tansy odor was inversely correlated with the total number of eggs laid during the female's whole life. Our experimental settings did not allow observation of movements directed toward the odor source.     

Diel flight pattern and flight performance of Cactoblastis cactorum (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) measured on a flight mill: influence of age, gender, mating status, and body size

Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is an invasive herbivore that poses a serious risk to Opuntia cacti in North America. Knowledge of the flight behavior of the cactus moth is crucial for a better understanding of natural dispersal, and for both monitoring and control. We used computer-linked flight mills to investigate diel flight activity and flight performance in relation to gender, age, mating status, and body size. Maximal flight activity for both mated and unmated moths occurred during twilight, whereas flight activity was low during photophase. The total distance flown and the number of initiated flights within a diel cycle were higher in both unmated and mated females than in males, but the longest single flight was similar in both genders. These findings suggest that pheromone trap captures of males likely indicate the simultaneous presence of females and that mated females might even be in areas where males are not detected yet. Flight performance heterogeneity was large, with a small portion of the population (both males and females) performing long unbroken flights, whereas the majority made short flights. Females had higher pupal and adult body size and shorter longevity than males. A few individuals, particularly young mated females, flying long distances may be important for active spread of a population and the colonization of new habitats. Implications of this study in the control of the cactus moth by using the sterile insect technique are discussed.     

Effects of gender and mating status on self-directed dispersal by the whitefly parasitoid Eretmocerus eremicus

1. The impacts of gender and mating on short‐range (< 10 km) dispersal by the whitefly parasitoid Eretmocerus eremicus Rose and Zolnerowich (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) were examined. A fluorescent dust‐marking technique was also tested. 2. In a vertical flight chamber, female flight duration was significantly longer than that of males, and unmated parasitoids flew for longer than mated parasitoids. The mean flight durations were: unmated females 34 min, mated females 10 min, unmated males 7 min, mated males < 1 min. 3. The dispersal behaviour of E. eremicus was investigated in the field using fluorescent dust. Before doing so, it was determined in the laboratory that this dust did not affect flight behaviour, was retained over the length of the experiments, and allowed large samples to be processed quickly and inexpensively. 4. In the field, traps were placed along annuli at 3, 5, 7, and 10 m from release points. Eighty‐seven per cent of the 4153 parasitoids captured were males. Sex ratios were near parity on release. 5. The difference in dispersal characteristics between males and females may be resource based, suggesting that certain requirements were met within the field plots for males that were not met for females. 6. Locally, males dispersed in a manner consistent with a simple diffusion model while females engaged in wind‐directed flight soon after leaving release sites. The fact that the genders exhibited dissimilar dispersal characteristics, supports the claim that insect flight, even by small species, can be self‐directed.     

Effect of sex,age and morphological traits on tethered flight of Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae) at different temperatures

The oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a pest of fruit and vegetable production that has become established in 42 countries in Africa after its first detection in 2003 in Kenya. It is likely that this rapid expansion is partly due to the reported strong capacity for flight by the pest. This study investigated the tethered flight performance of B. dorsalis over a range of constant temperatures in relation to sex and age. Tethered flight of unmated B. dorsalis aged 3, 10 and 21 days was recorded for 1 h using a computerized flight mill at temperatures of 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32 and 36 °C. Variations in fly morphology were observed as they aged. Body mass and wing loading increased with age, whereas wing length and wing area reduced as flies aged. Females had slightly larger wings than males but were not significantly heavier. The longest total distance flown by B. dorsalis in 1 h was 1559.58 m. Frequent short, fast flights were recorded at 12 and 36 °C, but long-distance flight was optimal between 20 and 24 °C. Young flies tended to have shorter flight bouts than older flies, which was associated with them flying shorter distances. Heavier flies with greater wing loading flew further than lighter flies. Flight distances recorded on flight mills approximated those recorded in the field, and tethered flight patterns suggest a need to factor temperature into the interpretation of trap captures.     

Simultaneous monitoring of flight and oviposition of individual velvetbean caterpillar moths

ABSTRACT. A 'pivot' flight actograph was combined with a rolling oviposition surface to characterize the flight and oviposition behaviour of velvetbean caterpillar moths, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hubner. Tethered, caged control females laid significantly more eggs that those flown on the actograph. Mated females laid more eggs than unmated ones. However, mating did not affect longevity nor fight frequency and duration. Laboratory-reared and wild-type females also did not differ signficantly in longevity and flight. Both laboratory and wild mated females laid most of their eggs during the first 7 days whereas unmated ones delayed their oviposition. None of the female types produced a definite hourly, daily or lifetime pattern in flight frequency or duration. Of the 7672 recorded flights, about 3% were greater than 0.5 h. 'Long' flights (>0.5h) were made by some females before oviposition, as in colonization migration, but most interspersed flight with oviposition, as in extended search migration.     

The influence of geographic population,age, and mating status on the flight activity of the Asian gypsy moth <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lymantria dispar</Emphasis> (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) in China

The gypsy moth Lymantria dispar (Linnaeus) is a highly polyphagous herbivore that defoliates a wide variety of tree species. The influence of age and mating status on the flight activity of females was assessed in seven geographically isolated populations from China. We examined flight activity of tethered females using a computer-linked flight mill in the laboratory and found that age significantly influenced flight parameters, including total flight distance, time, and speed. Flight distance peaked in the youngest females (at 1 day of age) and declined with age. No significant differences in flight parameters were found between unmated and mated females. Females from Guizhou showed the strongest flight activity among all seven populations. The total flight distances, flight times, and maximum flight speeds at 1 day of age were 7.50 ± 2.28 km, 2.17 ± 0.51 h, and 6.18 ± 0.51 km/h, respectively. These results provide valuable information regarding the scale and speed of dispersal in hotspots and can improve the management and control of forest damage.     

Mating and host density affect host feeding and parasitism in two species of whitefly parasitoids

Abstract The parasitoids in the genera of Encarsia and Eretmocerus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) are important biological control agents of whiteflies, and some of them not only parasitize hosts but also kill them with strong host‐feeding capacity. Two whitefly parasitoid species, Encarsia sophia and Eretmocerus melanoscutus were examined to determine if mating and host density affected their host feeding and parasitism. The whitefly host, Bemisia tabaci, was presented to these two wasp species in densities of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 third‐instar nymphs per clip cage. Mated whitefly parasitoid females fed on more hosts than unmated females under a range of host densities (under all six host densities for En. sophia; under the densities of 40 nymphs or more for Er. melanoscutus). Meanwhile, mated females parasitized more whitefly nymphs than unmated females under all host densities for both species. With increase of host density, mated or unmated Er. melanoscutus females killed more hosts by host feeding and parasitism. Mated En. sophia females killed more hosts by host feeding with increase of host density, whereas unmated females did not parasitze whitefly nymphs at all. Our results suggest that only mated female parasitoids with host‐feeding behavior should be released in crop systems to increase their bio‐control efficiency.     

Short-term, postcopulatory changes in receptive and proceptive behavior in the female syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus)

The interactions between male and female hamsters were recorded in terms of proximity (approaching, leaving, and following by each member of the pair). The time spent sniffing the partner was also recorded. Mated and unmated females were tested three times on the day of estrus and once on the day following estrus. As expected, receptivity declined rapidly in mated but not unmated females. None of the proximity measures changed during estrus in the unmated females. However, female approaching (Ap% ≈ female approaches as percentage of all approaches) decreased 1–3 hr after mating and was associated with a decline in a number of measures of female proceptive behavior. Female leaving (L% = female leaves as percentage of all leaves) did not change. In unmated females Ap% has decreased and L% has increased by the day after estrus (Day 2 of the estrus cycle). In mated females the decrease in Ap% is accelerated (occurring within the 3 hr after mating) and precedes a change in L% which has occurred by the day after estrus (Day 1 of pregnancy). Thus, mating brings about not only a decrease in receptivity, as has been shown for several species, but also a change in female proceptive behavior and in her stimulus value to the male.     

越冬代七星瓢虫和异色瓢虫的飞翔能力

在室内用飞行磨吊飞技术测定了七星瓢虫和异色瓢虫越冬代自然种群的飞翔能力。个体间飞翔特性差异极大。36.5%的七星瓢虫和23.7%的异色瓢虫每次飞翔都不到30分钟, 而这两种瓢虫中都有累计飞翔20小时以上的个体。最长持续飞翔时间达8小时以上和12小时以上的个体在七星瓢虫中分别为9.4%和1.2%, 在异色瓢虫中分别为21.1%和13.2%。大于30分钟的飞翔累计时间为6小时以上和12小时以上的个体在七星瓢虫中分别为20.0%和7.1%, 异色瓢虫则达47.4%和28.9%。雌性个体在卵发育期间表现出很强的飞翔能力。吊飞124小时, 飞翔能力的最高纪录是, 七星瓢虫累计飞翔22小时27分, 飞翔距离94.464km;异色瓢虫为24小时, 92.550km;飞翔速度都达到2m/秒。     

Premating isolation is determined by larval rearing substrates in cactophilic Drosophila mojavensis. IX. Host plant and population specific epicuticular hydrocarbon expression influences mate choice and sexual selection

Sexual signals in cactophilic Drosophila mojavensis include cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs), contact pheromones that mediate female discrimination of males during courtship. CHCs, along with male courtship songs, cause premating isolation between diverged populations, and are influenced by genotype × environment interactions caused by different host cacti. CHC profiles of mated and unmated adult flies from a Baja California and a mainland Mexico population of D. mojavensis reared on two host cacti were assayed to test the hypothesis that male CHCs mediate within‐population female discrimination of males. In multiple choice courtship trials, mated and unmated males differed in CHC profiles, indicating that females prefer males with particular blends of CHCs. Mated and unmated females significantly differed in CHC profiles as well. Adults in the choice trials had CHC profiles that were significantly different from those in pair‐mated adults from no‐choice trials revealing an influence of sexual selection. Females preferred different male CHC blends in each population, but the influence of host cactus on CHC variation was significant only in the mainland population indicating population‐specific plasticity in CHCs. Different groups of CHCs mediated female choice‐based sexual selection in each population suggesting that geographical and ecological divergence has the potential to promote divergence in mate communication systems.     

Long flights in Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) measured by a flight mill: influence of sex, mated status and age

Abstract. The flight capacity of Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) was measured in the laboratory by using computer-linked flight mills. Codling moths showed a large variation in flight capacity between individuals. We defined arbitrarily a longest single flight (LSF) of more than 5 km as an index for long-flyers. About 16.7% of virgin and 10.0% of mated males and 20.0% of virgin and 7.4% of mated females undertook such flights. Based on the LSF and the total distance flown (TDF^we concluded that males and females have little or no difference in flight capacity and that both the within-and between-habitat flights are similar in number and magnitude for both sexes. In the field, females are therefore potentially able to undertake flights of up to 11 km, as reported for males by other authors. This ability was highest at ages of 2–7 days after emergence, i.e. the first third of their lifetime, for virgin and mated male moths and for virgin female moths. Mated females showed peak flight capacity between 1 and 3 days after eclosion, which corresponded with the major egg-laying period. Few long flights were undertaken before oviposition. These findings do not agree with the oogenesis flight syndrome described by other authors, and this theory is believed not to apply to C.pomonella. Our laboratory results are discussed in relation to field experiments in general and hypotheses are developed about the significance of long-flyers for this species.     

Variation in energy reserves and role of body size in the mating system of Anopheles gambiae

Anopheles gambiae mates in flight. Males gather at stationary places at sunset and compete for incoming females. Factors that account for male mating success are not known but are critical for the future of any genetic control strategy. The current study explored variations in nutritional reserves (sugars, glycogen, lipids, and proteins) in wild‐caught swarming and resting males and evaluated the effect of body size and wing symmetry on male mating success. Our results showed that glycogen and sugar reserves are mobilized for flight. Males consume proportionally 5.9‐fold as much energy derived from sugars in swarming activities than when they are at rest. Mated males were on average bigger than unmated ones (P<0.0001). A strong correlation between the left and right wings in both mated and unmated males was found and additional analysis on fluctuating asymmetry did not show any indication of mated males being more symmetrical than unmated ones. The distribution of wing size of mated males was focused around a central value, suggesting that intermediate size of males is advantageous in the An. gambiae mating system. The results are discussed in the context of sexual selection.     

取食和交配对苹小吉丁飞行能力的影响

【目的】苹小吉丁Agrilus mali是一种严重危害苹果树的钻蛀性害虫。本研究旨在明确苹小吉丁的飞行扩散能力及对其飞行能力产生影响的关键因子。【方法】以SUN-FL型智能飞行磨系统对苹小吉丁不同日龄雌雄成虫的飞行能力进行了测定,同时评价了取食和交配情况对其飞行能力的影响。【结果】苹小吉丁飞行能力均随日龄的增加先增强后逐渐降低,初羽化的成虫飞行能力最低,11日龄成虫的飞行能力最强。雌成虫飞行能力强于雄成虫。在24 h内雌雄成虫的最长飞行距离分别为0.4165和0.3559 km;最长飞行时间分别为0.4582和0.4873 h;最大飞行速度分别为2.4639和1.8561 km/h。取食的3日龄雌成虫的平均飞行距离和平均飞行时间分别为0.047 km和0.048 h,雄成虫的分别为0.044 km和0.042 h;而未取食的雌成虫平均飞行距离和平均飞行时间仅分别为0.016 km和0.013 h,雄成虫的仅分别为0.013 km和0.012 h。交配对飞行能力的影响存在性别差异,已交配雌成虫的飞行能力要强于未交配雌成虫的,而已交配雄成虫的飞行能力却低于未交配雄成虫的。【结论】日龄对苹小吉丁成虫的飞行能力影响作用显著。取食显著提高苹小吉丁雌雄成虫的飞行能力,交配显著提高雌成虫飞行能力。