Flight activity of the smaller tea tortrix, adoxophyes honmai (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Abstract

Effects of sex, age, mating status and temperature on flight activity of the smaller tea tortrix, Adoxophyes honmai, were evaluated by a computer-aided flight mill system. Flight activity of both sexes peaked at 2 days old and they were capable of flying about 5 km a night. Between 1 and 4 days old, there was no significant difference in flight activity between the sexes, while females flew longer than males between 5 and 8 days old. Mating status, whether mated or unmated, did not affect flight activity of females. Both females and males flew most actively at 23°C, and their continuous long flights were reduced at temperatures under 18°C. Compared with flight activity of another tea tortrix, Homona magnanima, males of both species showed an identical pattern of age-specific flight, and flight activity of females of H. magnanima peaked at 5 days old, later than conspecific males. Suitable temperatures for female flight ranged from 20.5 to 28°C in A. honmai, and 15.5 to 23°C in H. magnanima.