1. Laboratory evaluation of flight activity of the common cutworm, Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).
- Author
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Tu, Ye‐Gou, Wu, Kong‐Ming, Xue, Fang‐Sen, and Lu, Yan‐Hui
- Subjects
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SPODOPTERA littoralis , *INSECT flight , *ANIMAL flight , *COMPUTER simulation , *CUTWORMS - Abstract
The flight activity of Spodoptera litura in tethered conditions is evaluated using a computer-mediated flight-mill in the laboratory. The 3–4-day-old moths fly longer and farther than those of other ages. Male and female moths exhibit similar flight activity. Mating status does not influence the flight duration and distance of 2-day-old females. However, these two flight parameters with a 6-day-old mated female is significantly lower than that of unmated ones. The optimum temperature for flight ranged from 16–24°C, whereas the optimum RH ranged from 60%–100%. During 72-h period, the total flight duration and distance of 1-day-old male and female moths were 19.6 h (± 5.8) and 83.3 km (± 28.4), and 24.0 h (± 7.0) and 105.4 km (± 37.4), respectively. These results indicate that S. litura has a great potential to undertake long-distance migratory flights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2010
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