Determination of the Flight Capacity of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)1

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Abstract Since invading Xinjiang, China in 2017, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), commonly known as the tomato leafminer or the South American tomato pinworm moth, has continuously expanded its scope of devastation. Because flight is a major means by which insects disperse, an insect flight mill was employed to elucidate the physiological boundaries and basic parameters of T. absoluta flight biology. The system was used to measure the average flight distance, flight time, and flight speed of adult male and female T. absoluta of different ages, including 5-d-old (post emergence) adults in different mating states that had received supplementary nutrition (5% honey water). Tests of 12 h of continuous suspension in a flight mill showed that 4 through 7-d-old adults had strong flying ability, but 5-d-old adults were the strongest flyers. The mean (±SEM) flight distance, flight time, and flight speed of 5-d-old females were 1.805 ± 0.040 km, 1.467 ± 0.036 h, and 1.231 ± 0.226 km/h, respectively. The mean (±SEM) flight distance, time, and speed of 5-d-old males were 1.627 ± 0.363 km, 1.950 ± 0.056 h, and 0.834 ± 0.202 km/h, indicating significant differences in flight ability between male and female adults. After feeding on 5% honey water, the flight ability of 5-d-old T. absoluta improved significantly compared with the control. The distance, time, and flight speed of honey-water fed 5-d-old virgin females increased by 16.73%, 8.32%, and 8.37%, compared with the control (fed honey-free water). The flight distance, time, and speed of 5-d-old males increased by 7.87%, 0.56%, and 7.07% respectively, compared with the control. After mating, the distance, time, and flight speed of 5-d-old female adults increased by 11.91%, 0.48%, and 11.29% compared with virgin female adults. However, after 5-d-old males mated, their corresponding flight ability decreased by 11.13%, 3.34%, and 7.34%, compared with virgin male adults. In summary, sex, supplementary nutrition, and mating status all have a significant impact on the flight ability of T. absoluta.