Flight activity changes of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae), by aging and copulation as measured by flight actograph

The reproductive development of the cotton bollworm moth, Helicoverpa armig era (Hubner), was observed, and flight activity of the moth was measured by actograph. The development of the moth ovary reached the vitellogenesis st age when the moths were 2 days old, and almost all of the moths copulated w hen they were 3 days old. The daily rhythms of flight activity of the uncop ulated moths showed two peaks, one at the beginning and the other in the se cond half of the scotophase. There were no changes in the daily rhythms of flight activity of copulated males, whereas copulated females had one peak at the beginning of the scotophase. The flight activity of uncopulated cott on bollworm moths increased daily from the time of eclosion, reaching a pea k at 3-4 days old, and then gradually reduced. The flight activity of femal es copulated at 3 days old was low at 4 days old, and then progressively de creased thereafter. The flight activity of copulated males was also low at 4 days old, but the activity levels recovered thereafter. Thus, it appears that the flight activity of the cotton bollworm changes with both age and c opulation status.