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Abstract

Effects of light intensity on Bradysia paupera male mating behavior and upwind flight to female sex pheromone extracts were assessed in cage and wind tunnel tests. Typically the five behavioral components of mating behavior: wing fanning, zigzag approach, abdominal curing, body pivoting and copulation were not affected by light intensity at 500 lx and 1 lx. In wind tunnel tests, male upwind flight to the pheromone source was, however, remarkably inhibited by light intensity less than 100 lx. Lower light intensity at 1 lx significantly depressed male flight activity but not walking activity in the cage tests. The decrease in trap catches in the wind tunnel resulted from reduced upwind flight due to suppression of flight activity by low light intensity. A higher light intensity of 1,500 lx also showed a tendency to reduce male trap catches in the wind tunnel tests. These results suggest that the light conditions should be considered when pheromone traps are used in mushroom cellars and green houses to control or manage fungus gnats.