Flight speed of male spruce bud worm moths in a wind tunnel at different wind speeds and at different distances from a pheromone source

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Flying male spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana [Clem.]) moths responding to virgin females and to synthetic pheromone in a wind tunnel maintained a constant rate of upwind progress when held by moving optomotor cues at a constant distance from the pheromone source. When allowed to progress upwind to the source, however, they slowed their upwind speed progressively as they approached it. They also adjusted their flight speed to maintain similar rates of upwind progress at different wind speeds.