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Title: BEET ARMYWORM (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE): EFFECTS OF AGE AT FIRST MATING ON REPRODUCTIVE POTENTIAL

Author
item Rogers, Charlie
item Marti, Orville

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/8/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua) is a serious pest of cotton and vegetables in southern latitudes of the United States. In developing control strategies for the moth stage of the beet armyworm, it is necessary to know something about its reproductive potential. We studied the effects of age at the first mating on reproduction in the beet armyworm. The age of both male and female moths on their first mating significantly affected the number of eggs laid by female, and the fertility of the eggs laid. Delayed mating by females increased their longevity but decreased the number of eggs laid and fertility of the eggs. Delayed mating by males also increased their longevity but decreased the number of viable sperm they transferred to females during mating. The optimum age for the first mating for both males and females is 1-2 days after they emerge from the pupal stage. Delaying the mating by either sex beyond 3-4 days after moths emerge adversely impacts the reproductive potential of the beet armyworm

Technical Abstract: The effects of age at the first mating on the reproductive potential of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (H¿bner), was studied in the laboratory. Both the fecundity and fertility of eggs laid were significantly affected (P ó 0.01) by age of males and females at the time of mating. Delayed mating by females increased longevity but decreased fecundity and fertility (P < 0.05). Delayed mating by males increased longevity (P < 0.05) but decreased the number of spermatophores they transferred to females (P < 0.01). The number of spermatorphores transferred during mating affected female fecundity and fertility (P < 0.01). The optimum age for the first mating for both males and females was 1-2 days post-emergence. Delaying the first mating by either sex beyond 3-4 days post-emergence significantly, and adversely, impacted the reproductive potential of the beet armyworm.