Calling behaviour of the carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), laboratory and field experiments

Abstract :

The calling behaviour of virgin female of carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller) (Lep.:Pyralidae) was studied at three different constant temperatures under laboratory conditions. Most virgin females called during the first and fewer during second scotophase after emergence, regardless of the temperature. Moths maintained at 30°C started calling significantly later in the scotophase than those maintained at 20 or 25°C. At all temperature regimes, the mean onset time of calling (MOTC) advanced from about 453rd to 345th minute after the onset of the scotophase, and the mean time spent calling (MTSC) increased by >30 minutes over the 8 days. Cohorts of females were also observed at two different periods in middle summer-late summer (early August and early September 2006) in the field to examine the effect of fluctuating abiotic conditions (temperature, wind velocity) and age on calling behaviour. All females started calling from eclosion day on. Calling started from the 370 to 280 minutes of scotophase depending on the age of the females and the mean time spent calling (MTSC) increased by >100 minutes over the 8 days. Age-related changes in the mean onset time of calling and the mean time spent calling were much less evident under field conditions, due to the inhibitory effects of low temperatures and high winds on female calling activity


Keyword :

calling behaviour, Ectomyelois ceratoniae, carob moth, and pomegranate


Author(s) : Sarjami, M. S., Nouri-Ganbalani, G., Goldansaz, H., Zakaria, R. A.
Downloads : 3434
Published Issue : 2009 Vol. 4 Number 2


2009 Vol. 4 Number 2