Flight Activity Of Moths Research Articles

Flight activity promotes reproductive processes in the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), has invaded many countries in Africa and Asia since 2016, posing a major threat to world food security. Long-distance migration and strong reproductive ability form the biological basis of its rapid population expansion, but the relationship between the flight and reproduction of FAW has not been studied in depth. Here, an empirical assessment of this relationship in an invasive FAW population in China found that 1–3-day-old adults which had undergone 10-h tethered flights had a significantly shorter pre-oviposition period and greater oviposition synchronization, but did not show any differences in fecundity, oviposition period, mating percentage or other reproductive variables. Further studies on moths after 1.25–15-h tethered flights indicated that the reproductive process of adults could be fully triggered by flight activity longer than 2.5 h. Dissection of the reproductive organs also showed that tethered flight promoted ovarian and testicular development of FAW. These results show that appropriate moth flight activity significantly speeds up the reproductive process of FAW, which increases our knowledge on its migratory biology in relation to regional outbreaks.

Modeling Migratory Flight in the Spruce Budworm: Circadian Rhythm

The crepuscular (evening) circadian rhythm of adult spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.)) flight activity under the influence of changing evening temperatures is described using a mathematical model. This description is intended for inclusion in a comprehensive model of spruce budworm flight activity leading to the simulation of mass migration events. The model for the temporal likelihood of moth emigration flight is calibrated using numerous observations of flight activity in the moth’s natural environment. Results indicate an accurate description of moth evening flight activity using a temporal function covering the period around sunset and modified by evening temperature conditions. The moth’s crepuscular flight activity is typically coincident with the evening transition of the atmospheric boundary layer from turbulent daytime to stable nocturnal conditions. The possible interactions between moth flight activity and the evening boundary layer transition, with favorable wind and temperature conditions leading to massive and potentially successful migration events, as well as the potential impact of climate change on this process, are discussed.

Using degree-day and nonlinear regression models to predict seasonal flights of Adoxophyes orana (F.V.R.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in plum orchards

Adoxophyes orana (F. v. R.) is a major pest of pome and stone fruits in Europe and Asia. Recently, it was introduced to northwestern Turkey. This study reports the first record of A. orana in plum orchards in Turkey. Moth flight activity was monitored using pheromone traps in Bursa during 2011-2013. Also, degree-day (DD) accumulations were calculated to predict moth emergence time and flight peaks in plum orchards. A. orana had three flight peaks. Depending on the year, the first, second and third flight of moths began between 2-25 May, 20 June-13 July and 7 August-14 September, respectively. Emergence dates of each flight coincided with DD accumulations of 325-391, 957-1065, and 1797-1943 DD in the same order. Richards’ function and Logistic regression models were constructed to forecast seasonal flights of this pest. The 50% moth emergence of the first, second and third flight of A. orana was predicted at 606, 1407 and 2169 DD in the Richards’ function, and 636, 1427 and 2341 DD in the Logistic model as compared with observed values at 626, 1393, and 2110 DD, respectively. Developed forecasting models in this study may help apply timely control and thus reducing the number of pesticide applications.

Synthesis and Field Evaluation of the Sex Pheromone of <I>Stenoma catenifer</I> (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae)

Field trials of the sex pheromone of an important and potentially invasive pest of avocados, Persea americana Miller (Lauraceae), Stenoma catenifer Walsingham (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae), were carried out in commercial avocado orchards in Guatemala. The results indicated that the pheromone consists of a single component, (9Z)-9,13-tetradecadien-1-ynal; blends of this compound with a range of ratios of the corresponding alcohol and acetate, or with (6Z,9Z)-tricosadiene, which was present in pheromone gland extracts, were equally or less attractive to male moths than the single component. A range of doses from 10 microg to 1 mg were equally attractive, and lures remained attractive for periods of several weeks. Male moth flight activity peaked between 0230 and 0430 hours. Overall, trap catches were relatively low, similar to what was reported for the congeneric Stenoma cecropia Meyrick, suggesting that this species may use other signals in addition to pheromones during mate location. Nevertheless, the pheromone will be useful for detection of S. catenifer, particularly in areas where there is a risk of the moth invading and establishing due to increased commerce in fresh avocados, and for certifying export orchards as being free of S. catenifer.

Movement of the grape berry moth,Endopiza viteana: displacement distance and direction

Abstract. Mark–release–recapture is used to quantify displacement by adults of the North American grape berry moth,Endopiza viteanaClemens (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) under field conditions. Moths marked with fluorescent dust are released eight times in the centre of a vineyard over 2 years, and recaptured using pheromone traps and interception traps. In vineyards, male moths are recaptured an average of 13.8 ± 0.8 m from the release site (maximum 58.2 m), whereas female displacement is similar with average flight distances of 11.4 ± 6.7 m (maximum 41.2 m). Increasing wind speed during moth flight activity periods suppresses displacement by both sexes, and females are less likely than males to fly in winds above 0.6 m s−1. The majority of males are recaptured upwind from the release site or at a tangent to the overall mean wind direction when responding to pheromone traps, whereas female moths trapped in interception traps exhibit a large variability in direction from the release point. Releases of marked moths in woods adjacent to a vineyard demonstrates interhabitat movement byE. viteanamales and by a single female. The average maximum displacement by males during interhabitat movement is 105.4 ± 3.9 m, significantly greater than the average maximum of 39.7 ± 6.7 m inside the vineyard habitat.

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

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.

Timing of Foraging Flights of Three Species of Bats in Relation to Insect Activity and Predation Risk

The flight activity of three species of insectivorous bats and their prey was studied in north-east Scotland (57°N) during summer 1993. Aerial insects of sizes taken by bats were more abundant during the day than during the night, but the highest abundance usually occurred around dusk, partly reflecting increased flight of dipterans. In contrast, the flight activity of moths, mainly Geometridae and Pyralidae, was greatest around midnight. Two species of aerial-hawking bats, Pipistrellus pipistrellus and Myotis daubentonii, which feed primarily on small flying insects, mainly Diptera, emerged from their roosts 15-30 min after sunset, during or after the dusk peak in insect activity, and subsequently foraged as their food was declining in abundance. In contrast, the foliage gleaning bat Plecotus auritus, which feeds primarily on moths, did not emerge until about one hour after sunset, but while the activity of its main prey was increasing. The two aerial-hawking bats therefore seem to be constrained from exploiting most of the evening peak in aerial insect abundance, presumably because earlier emergence would result in higher predation risk at the higher light levels. P. auritus may have less to gain by emerging early, since it can feed on moths and non-flying prey independently of the activity of small insects at dusk. The conclusions have implications for the conservation of bats and their habitats particularly at high latitudes. Protective tree cover may allow earlier evening emergence of bats and therefore provide access to more food.

Sex-biased predation on moths by insectivorous bats

Two species of insectivorous bats, Lasiurus cinereus and L. borealis, ate significantly more male than female moths in the wild. The observed bias was likely to be a consequence of sexual dimorphism in moth flight activity associated with sexual differences in mate acquiring mechanisms. Female moths flew less than males and their activity peaks occurred at different times. The peak of male activity coincided with a peak in bat activity in the middle of the night, while female activity peaked earlier in the night when bat activity was relatively low. The results of this study are interpreted in a sexual selection framework, and the conclusions about predation risk from bats that hunt airborne prey are applicable to all nocturnally flying insects that exhibit sexual dimorphism in flight activity.

Geographical variation in the seasonal moth flight activity of the maize stalk borer, Busseola fusca (Fuller), in South Africa

The seasonal abundance of Busseola fusca moths at five localities in the maize production area of South Africa was monitored by means of Robinson light traps. Geographical variation in the flight pattern was shown to exist between localities from east to west. Both the time and magnitude of the three seasonal moth flights seem to be governed by climatic factors. It is pointed out that the severity and the time of occurrence of larval infestations in different localities are largely predetermined by the time of planting. S. Afr. J. Plant Soil 1985, 2: 123–126

Density Treatment Level for Tomato Pinworm (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) Based on Pheromone Trap Catches1

The initiation of a weekly insecticide treatment schedule with methomyl at 0.5 kg Al/ha for control of the tomato pin worm, Keiferia lycopersicella (Walsingham ), based on pheromone trap catches was investigated from 1978–1981. The initiation of a weekly insecticide treatment schedule based on density treatment levels of ca. 10, 15, or 30 moths per trap per night (M/T/N) captured in a pheromone trap over a one-and-one-half week period were compared to a weekly insecticide treatment schedule initiated at the start of the growing season (grower practice) and an untreated control. A density treatment level of ca. 10 M/T/N over a one-and-one-half week period resulted in an infestation level similar to that obtained by a treatment program initiated at the start of the growing season while at the same time resulted in a decrease of 2-3 insecticide applications. Initiation of a treatment program based on 15 or 30 M/T/N resulted in unacceptable infestation in the fruit. The relationship between moth flight activity, larval infestation in the foliage, and percent infested fruit was investigated in the untreated replicates. There was a strong statistical relationship (r = 0.95) between the mean number of larvae/row-m in the foliage and the mean percent infested fruit one week later. There was a weaker relationship (r = 0.76) between the mean number of M/T/N and the mean percent infested fruit two weeks later.

Daily flight activity of moths in the continuous daylight of the arctic summer

The daily onset of flight and the lime of activity of moths were studied at an arctic and a subarctic locality in midsummer under natural light conditions but with all other factors kept constant. The daily variation of light intensity is much smaller than at temperate latitudes, and the illumination is continuously at levels that normally inhibit the activity of moths. In spite of this, the investigated species showed a distinct daily periodicity with the activity occurring at about the same time of day as in the same or related species from lower latitudes. It is suggested that this is the result of a process of acclimatization to high light intensities.A number of species show a diurnal activity pattern, and it is suggested that this is connected with their high temperature requirements. In the field, Anarta zetterstedti Staud. thermoregulates by settling frequently on dark rocks which can reach high temperatures when the sun is shining. This species can not fly unless its body temperature is above 30°C and it prefers an ambient temperature of about 36°C.

Porina moth flight activity in the southern North Island

Porina moth flight activity in the southern North Island

Título en español.

1. Durante cuatro noches consecutivas completas se observaron las actividades de vuelo de la mariposa nocturna, adulto del barrenador de la caña de azúcar, para las cuales se usaron trampas que alojaban mariposas hembras como señuelo y trampas con luz negra, en los campos de caña infestados por este insecto. 2. Los adultos machos se atraparon desde las 8 p.m. hasta las 4 a.m., registrándose dos apogeos de vuelo, uno temprano y otro tardío. Así, la población de estos adultos en Puerto Rico difiere en sus hábitos de vuelo de los de la misma especie en Louisiana. 3. Las trampas de luz negra atraparon adultos hembras del barrenador de la caña de azúcar sólo durante las noches obscuras con poca o ninguna luz lunar, mientras que los adultos machos pudieron atraparse en mayor número y en las mismas trampas en las noches luminosas. Las trampas con adultos hembras como señuelo fueron igualmente efectivas tanto en las noches obscuras como en las claras. 4. La hora en que se capturaron los adultos en las trampas de luz varió de la hora en que se capturaron los adultos machos, registrándose sólo un apogeo de vuelo temprano en la noche. 5. La experiencia actual en cuanto al método de construir y preparar señuelos en las trampas de lata y en las de luz y de localizarlas en el campo indica que es necesario mejorar este método antes de que pueda hacerse un estudio más eficiente y confiable de la población de adultos del barrenador de la caña de azúcar en Puerto Rico.