INFLUENCE OF HOST PRESENCE, AGE AND MATING ON THE CALLING BEHAVIOR OFFEMALE EARIAS-VITELLA (FABRICIUS) (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE)

The influence of host presence, age and mating on calling behaviour of the female spotted bollworm, Earias vittella, was studied under a 14L :10D photoperiod. Onset of calling was earlier in the presence of a ho st and 93% of the females initiated calling in its presence on day one after emergence, compared to 67% in its absence. A majority of the fe males initiated calling during the 10th hour of the first scotophase a nd thereafter the initiation shifted to earlier hours as age advanced. Females generally called longer in the presence of a host, The mean t ime spent in calling, from the Ist to the 10th day increased from 56 t o 152 min In the absence of a host, and from 77 to 234 min in its pres ence. Most of the females resumed calling after mating, but the mated females exhibited a significant reduction in calling performance when compared with the virgin females.