Calling Behavior of the Cotton Bollworm, Heliothis armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract

The calling behavior of virgin female cotton bollworms, Heliothis armigera (Hübner), was investigated in the laboratory at 24–26°C under a reversed 16:8 (L:D) photoperiod. Females began calling 2–5 d after emergence. Calling age was used for comparing calling behavior between successive calling days. The mean onset of calling time advanced significantly from 322.4 min after scotophase on calling day 1 to 133.9 min after scotophase on calling day 5. The mean length of the call increased significantly from 63.4 min on calling day 1 to 222.6 min on calling day 3, then decreased to 180.8 min on calling day 5. Entrained females held under 60 h of darkness exhibited an endogenous circadian rhythm of calling.