Oral application of D-glucoascorbic acid to adult Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) inducing sterility by spermatophore malformation

Abstract

D-glucoascorbic acid in 0·05–0·30% aqueous solution fed to adult males of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) caused the production of deformed spermatophores. During mating the spermatophore corpus did not become inflated and permanent copulations were often observed. The inadequate moulding of the spermatophore was caused exclusively by oral uptake of D-glucoascorbic acid in male moths. This ascorbic acid analogue did not affect adult longevity, number of spermatophores or egg fecundity. Moths feeding on an aqueous diet of 0·3 % of this chemical were completely sterile. Bait-stations containing this material might possibly be used to induce sterility in the natural insect population.