Studies on the Cold-Hardiness and Overwintering of Spodoptera litura F. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). IV. Daily Activity Rhythm of Larvae in Winter

Abstract

The influence of low temperatures in winter on the daily activity rhythm and feeding behavior of S. litura larvae was investigated under field and greenhouse conditions. The larvae usually live in the soil or on the ground surface under grass at night. Some larvae became active at 10°C and fed during the day when the air temperature rose to about 14°C. They crawled into the soil under grass and stopped activity again when their body temperature increased to 20°C or more. The feeding behavior activity decreased at temperatures below 10°C, and the percentage of non-feeding larvae increased with decreased temperature to reach about 50% at 5°C. © 1992, JAPANESE SOCIETY OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY AND ZOOLOGY. All rights reserved.