Flight activity changes of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Huebner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), by aging and copulation as measured by flight actograph.

Abstract

The reproductive development of the cotton bollworm moth, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner), was observed, and flight activity of the moth was measured by actograph. The development of the moth ovary reached the vitellogenesis stage when the moths were 2 days old, and almost all of the moths copulated when they were 3 days old. The daily rhythms of flight activity of the uncopulated moths showed two peaks, one at the beginning and the other in the second half of the scotophase. There were no changes in the daily rhythms of flight activity of copulated males, whereas copulated females had one peak at the beginning of the scotophase. The flight activity of uncopulated cotton bollworm moths increased daily from the time of eclosion, reaching a peak at 3-4 days old, and then gradually reduced. The flight activity of females copulated at 3 days old was low at 4 days old, and then progressively decreased thereafter. The flight activity of copulated males was also low at 4 days old, but the activity levels recovered thereafter. Thus, it appears that the flight activity of the cotton bollworm changes will both age and copulation status.