COLOUR IN ADULTHELICOVERPA PUNCTIGERA(WALLENGREN) (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) AS AN INDICATOR OF MIGRATORY ORIGIN

Abstract

A seasonal change in the colour of Helicoverpa punctigera moths from pale spring to dark autumn populations in northern Tasmania is documented. Laboratory‐rearing trials showed that high pupal temperatures produce pale moths and lower temperatures produce darker moths irrespective of larval experience. The effect of photoperiod was not investigated. Field rearing trials showed that although overwintered local pupae can emerge as early as 29 October, these adults and those from local pupae emerging in summer are darker than most of the moths appearing suddenly each September in Tasmania. The existence of a primarily pupal temperature‐mediated variation in wing colour, if substantiated by further research, will assist in the study of migratory Helicoverpa moths. Copyright © 1993, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved