Journal of Insect Behavior (1999) 12, 199-211

Beatrice Hurtrel and Denis Thiéry (1999)
Modulation of flight activity in Lobesia botrana Den. and Schiff. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) females studied in a wind tunnel
Journal of Insect Behavior 12 (2), 199-211
Abstract: We studied modulations of flight activity in European grapevine moth females (EGVM) by individual observations in a wind tunnel. The effect of different factors was analyzed: variation in atmospheric pressure prior to the experiments, time of day, first experience of flight, age, mating, and odor of tansy, which attracts females. The circadian flight activity showed a peak the hour preceding the onset of scotophase and sustained activity occurred during the 6 h around this peak. Females with a flight experience in the tunnel took off more quickly than naive ones (3.9 ± 7.4 vs 20.3 ± 22.8 s). Three-day-old unmated females subjected to negative variations of atmospheric pressure (10 hPa) during the 4 h prior to the experiments increased their duration of flight (12.1 ± 8.7 vs 5.3 ± 3.4 s) compared to those not subjected to variation. One-day-old females were less active than older ones; flight was shorter than in 2-day-old females (2.7 ± 6.7 vs 5.1 ± 9.5 s) and fewer of them took off (28 vs 63%). Mating also affected the flight activity of 2-day-old females; mated females flew longer than virgins (12 ± 16.8 vs 5.1 ± 9.5 s) and took off more quickly (6.5 ± 14.4 vs 19.3 ± 20.1 s). Tansy odor in the tunnel did not significantly affect the flight behavior of virgin females, but it increased the proportion of mated females that initiated flight (87 vs 70%) and duration of flight (11.2 ± 24.4 vs 7.2 ± 13.7 s), and it reduced the latency to takeoff (2.1 ± 7.4 vs 8.1 ± 19.1 s). Flight duration in tansy odor was inversely correlated with the total number of eggs laid during the female's whole life. Our experimental settings did not allow observation of movements directed toward the odor source.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Denis Thiéry, Béatrice Hurtrel

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Lobesia botrana