Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (1971) 14, 245-250

Y. Perez, M. Verdier and M.P. Pener (1971)
The effect of photoperiod on male sexual behaviour in a north Adriatic strain of the migratory locust
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 14 (2), 245-250
Abstract: The Panzano strain of Locusta migratoria, originating from North Italy, was used for laboratory experiments under conditions of either 12 or 16 hrs illumination per day, and wounded or unwounded on the neck membrane. Preliminary experiments demonstrated that in this strain 16 hrs day-length led to delayed and reduced egg-laying, while 12 hrs day-length induced early and intensive oviposition. In subsequent experiments sexual behaviour of males kept under either regime of the photoperiod was observed in the presence of receptive females. Kept under 12 hrs day-length, males exhibited vigorous sexual behaviour, approximately at the same level of intensity from the 2nd till the 5th-6th week of the experiment. In contrast, under 16 hrs illumination the intensity of male sexual behaviour gradually increased from the 2nd till the 9th-10th week. Under either condition of photoperiod, wounded males showed slightly more intensive sexual behaviour than unwounded. Photoperiod affected the intensity of male sexual behaviour in this strain.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied from Acridological Abstracts with permission by NRI, Univ. of Greenwich at Medway.)
Link to article at publishers website

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Locusta migratoria		Italy