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Title: REPRODUCTIVE POTENTIAL OF ONCE-MATED BEET ARMYWORM (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE)

Author
item Rogers, Charlie
item Marti, Orville

Submitted to: Environmental Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/31/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua) is a serious pest of cotton and vegetables in the southern latitudes of the U. S. We studied the effects of age at mating for moths which have a single opportunity to mate on the reproductive potential of both males and females. Female age at mating significantly influenced the number of eggs laid, fertility of the eggs and moth longevity. Two days after emergence is the optimum mating age for females to achieve their reproductive potential. Male age at mating singificantly affected their mate's fecundity and fertility, and their own longevity. These results indicate that to properly document the effects of adult mortality factors on adult populations of the beet armyworm it is necessary to know the mean mating age of the population.

Technical Abstract: In preparing to document the effects of an ectoparasitic nematode, Noctuidonema guyanense Remillet and Silvain (Nematoda: Acugutturidae), on the reproductive potential of Spodoptera exigua (Hubner), we studied the effects of age at mating on S. exigua reproduction in the laboratory. The age of moths at mating significantly influenced (P < 0.01) the transfer of spermatophores by virgin males and the receipt of spermatophores by virgin females. Female age at mating significantly affected (P < 0.01) fecundity, fertility and longevity. Two days post-emergence was the optimum mating age for females to achieve their maximum reproductive potential; however, females laying the greatest number of eggs lived the fewest number of days. Male age at mating significantly influenced (P < 0.05) their mate's fecundity and fertility, and their own longevity. Females mating with two-day old males laid the most eggs ( = 1,310.8) having highest fertility ( = 56.8%). Males mating on day two post-emergence lived significantly fewer days ( = 11.6) than males which mated on day one or on day 10 or 11. To document the effects of an adult mortality factor, e.g., N. guyanense, on S. exigua reproductive potential, one must standardize age at which moths mate.