FACTORS AFFECTING CALLING BEHAVIOR BY LAMBDINA-FISCELLARIA-FISCELLARIA (LEPIDOPTERA, GEOMETRIDAE), UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS

Effects of age, mated status, provision of food, and temperature on ca lling behavior under field conditions by females of Lambdina fiscellar ia fiscellaria (Guenee) were examined. Eighty to 100% of virgin moths aged 1 to 7 d called for a mean total of 3.3 to 6.7 h during the night in bouts averaging 0.6 to >3 h; calling did not occur during the day. Marking, a behavior characterized by the rubbing of fully extruded te rminal abdominal segments against the substrate, was exhibited by virg in moths for brief periods in the afternoon and for total durations av eraging 25 min to 4 h at night. Old moths called longer and in fewer b outs and marked less often than young moths. Mated moths usually did n ot call but, like virgin moths, did exhibit erratic marking patterns e arly in the scotophase. The provision of goldenrod flowers had little effect on marking or calling. When temperatures were < 10-degrees-C, t he percentage of moths calling rose, calling bout length and total tim e spent calling increased, the onset time of calling shifted to earlie r in the scotophase, and the amount of marking decreased,