Journal of Insect Behavior (1995) 8, 499-511

Ashok J. Tamhankar (1995)
Host influence on mating behavior and spermatophore reception correlated with reproductive output and longevity of female Earias insulana (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Journal of Insect Behavior 8 (4), 499-511
Abstract: When mating and oviposition behavior of Earias insulana were studied in the absence or presence of host or by providing only host odor, in comparison to other treatments host absence caused a delayed and reduced reproductive activity with occasional impairment of egg viability. Presence of host or its odor resulted in a short premating period and a significant increase in mating frequency, number of spermatophores transferred, number of eggs oviposited, and proportion of eggs fertilized. Compared to host odor, host accessibility had a larger impact on insect behavior, indicating the importance of host cantact. Under conditions of host accessibility, there existed a significant and positive correlation between the number of spermatophores received by a female and both the number of eggs she oviposited and her longevity. This indicated a role for 'male-derived nutrients' in the reproduction of E. insulana.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
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.
	Earias insulana