Heliothis 1 spp.: Behavior of Prepupae and Emergence of Adults from Different Soils at Different Moisture Levels 2

Abstract

Prepupae and newly formed pupae of the bollwom, Heliothis zea (Boddie), and the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.), were allowed to enter 3 types of soil or were manually buried in the soils and were then exposed to 3 simulated regimes of rainfall. Soil type did not affect emergence, but there were significant differences in emergence when the prepupae were allowed to form their own pupation cells or were manually buried. The depth at which the pupae were buried was insignificant, but the regime of rainfall affected emergence of moths of both species. In prepupal behavior tests, both species moved further from the release point on smooth and packed soils compared to rough, soft soil.