Authors: COLVIN, J.; COOTER, R. J.; PATEL, S.

Source: Journal of Economic Entomology, Volume 87, Number 6, December 1994 , pp. 1502-1506(5)

Publisher: Entomological Society of America

Abstract:

Cultures of the bollworm, Helicoverpa armigem (Hübner), previously have proved difficult to establish using field-collected insects, mainly because of their low mating frequency in the laboratory. Factors contributing to this mating bottleneck include differences in the rate at which the sexes reach reproductive maturity as well as the response of calling females to males. At 26°C, female moths were found to emerge on an average of two nights earlier than males. When only a few moths contributed offspring to the subsequent generation, the prereproductive period distributions of the progeny were found to differ significantly. In this instance, females had an average prereproductive period that was two nights shorter than that of males, leading to a four-night gap between the sexes in reaching reproductive maturity. Females were also shown to be most receptive to mating attempts shortly after reaching maturity and so by the time the males had matured, most females were already exhibiting unreceptive behavior. Mating success was improved significantly by speeding up the development of males, a technique used successfully to cross strains of H. armigera originating from Africa, India, China, and Australia. The relevance of these results to the possibility that cryptic species of H. armigera exist is discussed.

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 1994-12-01

More about this publication?

• Journal of Economic Entomology is published bimonthly in February, April, June, August, October, and December. The journal publishes articles on the economic significance of insects and is divided into the following sections: apiculture & social insects; arthropods in relation to plant disease; forum; insecticide resistance and resistance management; ecotoxicology; biological and microbial control; ecology and behavior; sampling and biostatistics; household and structural insects; medical entomology; molecular entomology; veterinary entomology; forest entomology; horticultural entomology; field and forage crops, and small grains; stored-product; commodity treatment and quarantine entomology; and plant resistance. In addition to research papers, Journal of Economic Entomology publishes Letters to the Editor, interpretive articles in a Forum section, Short Communications, Rapid Communications, and Book Reviews.
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