Periodicity of oviposition,feeding, and calling by mated femaleHeliothis virescens in a field cage

This paper describes behaviors exhibited by mated, 3-day-old female Heliothis virescensin the presence of flowering cotton infield cages in mid-July. Females exhibit discrete periods of egg deposition, calling, and feeding during scotophase. Females exhibit behaviors such as walking while wing fanning, wing buzzing, antennal movement, bending of abdomen, and dragging of the ovipositor on the substrate before egg deposition. These behaviors are interspersed with flight and calling. The number and duration of some behaviors differ when the female is ovipositing on cotton plants versus cage screen. Egglaying occurs in several major bouts through the scotophase with periods of inactivity or other activities interspersed. Most eggs are laid before 0300 h. Significant calling is observed after 0100 h and continues until about 0430 h. Although females exhibit some feeding near sunset, the major feeding activity is seen just prior to and after sunup.