A technique for studying flight behaviour of tethered Spodoptera exempta moths

ABSTRACT. A new apparatus was developed for studies on flight behaviour of the African armyworm, Spodoptera exempta (Wlk.), to record the time and duration of all flights continuously for up to several days. A technique for attaching the mounting bracket to the pharate adult before eclosion allowed flight recording to commence within 1–2h of emergence without the need for anaesthesia. Results obtained using the apparatus indicate that migratory flight does not occur on the night of emergence. The time of take-off of tethered moths in the laboratory agrees closely with observations of flight behaviour in the field.