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THE AGE OF FEMALE EUROPEAN CORN BORER MOTHS, OSTRINIA NUBILALIS (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE), IN THE FIELD AND TESTS OF ITS USE IN FORECASTING DAMAGE TO GREEN PEPPERS

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

W. M. Elliott
Affiliation:
Research Station, Agriculture Canada, Harrow, Ontario N0R 1G0
J. D. Richardson
Affiliation:
Research Station, Agriculture Canada, Harrow, Ontario N0R 1G0
J. Founk
Affiliation:
Research Station, Agriculture Canada, Harrow, Ontario N0R 1G0

Abstract

The mean post-mating age of mated female moths of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), from light traps varied from 3.4 to 5.2 days during the June–September flight period at Harrow, Ontario, in a manner consistent with assignment of moths to 3 generations per year. At the beginning of the first generation the mean age was 3.66 days and rose to 5.21 before flights ceased. At the beginning of the second generation the mean age was 3.39 days and rose to 4.47 days. A third generation could be detected in early September by a significant drop in age and an increase in virgin females. The average age of mated females was negatively correlated with the proportion of virgin females in the same week (r = −0.648, P = 0.02), indicating that about 40% of the variance in age of mated females was associated with emergence of new recruits to the population. Females collected with a sweep net from their day time resting places in weeds were either the same age or older than those from the light trap. The mean age of moths from light traps was found to be not meaningful when it was tested as a factor in forecasting damage caused by their progeny in green peppers 3–5 weeks later.

Résumé

L'âge moyen après accouplement de femelles adultes de la pyrale du maïs, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), prélevées de pièges lumineux a varié de 3.4 à 5.2 jours au cours de la période de vol de juin à septembre à Harrow (Ontario), ce qui confirme la trivoltinité de cette espèce. Au début de la première génération, l'âge moyen est de 3.66 jours et atteint 5.21 jours avant la fin des vols. Au début de la deuxième génération, il est de 3.39 jours et atteint ensuite 4.47 jours. On peut déceler la présence d'une troisième génération au début de septembre par une baisse significative de l'âge moyen et un accroissement du nombre de femelles vierges. L'âge moyen des femelles accouplées est négativement corrélé à la proportion de femelles vierges durant la même semaine, ce qui prouve qu'environ 40% de la variance d'âge des femelles accouplées est liées à l'apparition de nouvelles recrues dans la population. Les femelles capturées au filet dans les mauvaises herbes (leurs aires de repos diurne) sont du même âge ou plus vieilles que celles prélevées des pièges lumineux. L'âge moyen des femelles capturées dans ces pièges n'est pas significatif si on l'utilise comme facteur de prédiction des dégâts causés par leur descendance sur des poivrons 3 à 5 semaines plus tard.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1982

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