FLIGHT POTENTIAL OF FERAL HELICOVERPA-ZEA (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE) MALES MEASURED WITH A 32-CHANNEL, COMPUTER-MONITORED, FLIGHT-MILL SYSTEM

Single-night flight performances of 256 feral corn earworm males, Heli coverpa zea (Boddie), were measured with a 32-channel, computer-monito red flight-mill system to evaluate their potential and propensity for engaging in long-distance, migratory-type flight. Test moths were male s of mixed age that were selected randomly from daily catches in phero mone-baited traps located adjacent to fields of silking corn, Zea mays (L.), in Burleson County near College Station, TY during the period o f 16 and 30 Tune 1992. Flight was observed in 96% (n = 256) of the mot hs tested; however, because of mortality and other factors, only 52% ( 134) remained capable of Eight throughout the 9.75-h simulated scotoph ase period. The 134 moths averaged flying a total distance of 32.53 km in 17 separate flights during 5.61 h of total Eight time which includ ed an average maximum-duration sustained single flight of 18.8 km of 2 .98 h duration. Thus, the feral H. tea males demonstrated a high poten tial for long-distance Eight. Other observed characteristics of moth b ehavior and flight performance are discussed, and the flight-mill syst em is described.