Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-lnqnp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T18:56:39.971Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Varying durations of arrested oocyte development in relation to migration in the African armyworm moth, Spodoptera exempta (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

W. W. Page
W. W. Page
Affiliation:
Overseas Development Natural Resources Institute, College House, Wrights Lane, London, W8 5SJ, UK
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The rate of oocyte development in Spodoptera exempta (Walker) was investigated in the laboratory and in the field in Kenya. Stages and rates of development were examined in relation to moth size and timing of mating and oviposition. The stage of oocyte development was established by measuring the widths of the second or third oocyte at the distal end of one ovariole. Data from moths of known age showed that oocytes were partially developed at eclosion and that a linear progression in development occurred up to 30 h after emergence, by which time the oocytes had reached approximately half their mature size. Oocyte development continued unbroken in some moths up to the time of oviposition on the second night after emergence, whilst the remainder arrested oocyte development for a varying number of days. Mating occurred after midnight, but only once the oocytes had reached a certain size, irrespective of whether development was continuous or arrested. In the latter case, this stage was reached immediately after development resumed. Oviposition usually occurred the night after mating, mainly around midnight and with a second peak towards dawn. The dawn peak derived from mature moths which mated and oviposited on the same night. It is suggested that moths arrest oocyte development to minimize wing loading during migration and that, since moths stay in arrested development for varying lengths of time (thought to be genetically regulated), dispersal is greatly enhanced.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 78 , Issue 2 , June 1988 , pp. 181 - 198
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aidley, D. J. (1974). Migratory capability of the African armyworm moth, Spodoptera exempta (Walk.).—E. Afr. agric. For. J. 40, 202–203.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anon. (1986?). The ODA/KARI African armyworm programme results.—pp. 234–250 in Record of Research, Annual Report 1977–1980.—299 pp. Nairobi, Kenya, Agric. Res. Dep., Kenya Agric. Res. Inst.Google Scholar
Beck, S. D. (1980). Insect photoperiodism.—2nd edn, 387 pp. New York, Academic Press.Google Scholar
Brown, E. S. (1962). The African army worm Spodoptera exempta (Walker) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae): a review of the literature.—57 pp. London, Commonw. Inst. Ent.Google Scholar
Brown, E. S., Betts, E. & Rainey, R. C. (1969). Seasonal changes in distribution of the African army worm, Spodoptera exempta (Wlk.) (Lep., Noctuidae), with special reference to eastern Africa.—Bull. ent. Res. 58, 661–728.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, E. S. & Swaine, G. (1966). New evidence on the migration of moths of the African armyworm, Spodoptera exempta (Wlk.) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae).—Bull. ent. Res. 56, 671–684.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Butler, G. D. Jr., Hamilton, A. G. & Proshold, F. I. (1979). Developmental times of Heliothis virescens and H. subflexa in relation to constant temperature.—Ann. ent. Soc. Am. 72, 263–266.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Callahan, P. S. (1958). Behavior of the imago of the corn earworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie), with special reference to emergence and reproduction.—Ann. ent. Soc. Am. 51, 271–283.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davis, N. T. (1964). Studies of the reproductive physiology of Cimicidae (Hemiptera)—I. Fecundation and egg maturation.—J. Insect Physiol. 10, 947–963.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dewhurst, C. F. (1984). Some observation on the mating habits of the African armyworm, Spodoptera exempta (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).—Entomologist's mon. Mag. 120, 119–125.Google Scholar
Etman, A. A. M. & Hooper, G. H. S. (1979). Developmental and reproductive biology of Spodoptera litura (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).—J. Aust. entomol. Soc. 18, 363–372.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Faure, J. C. (1943). Phase variation in the army worm, Laphygma exempta (Walk.).—Sci. Bull. Dep. Agric. For. Un. S. Afr. no. 234, 17 pp.Google Scholar
Gatehouse, A. G. (1986). Migration in the African armyworm Spodoptera exempta: genetic determination of migratory capacity and a new synthesis.—pp. 128–144 in Danthanarayana, W. (Ed.). Insect flight, dispersal and migration.—289 pp. Berlin, Springer-Verlag.Google Scholar
Gunn, A. & Gatehouse, A. G. (1985). Effects of the availability of food and water on reproduction in the African army worm, Spodoptera exempta.—Physiol. Entomol. 10, 53–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hattingh, C. C. (1944). The biology and ecology of the army worm (Laphygma exempta) and its control in South Africa.—Sci. Bull. Dep. Agric. For. Un. S. Afr. no. 217, 50 pp.Google Scholar
Jack, R. W. (1926). Outbreak of army worm (Laphygma exempta, Walk.).—Bull. Dep. Agric. and Lds Sth. Rhod. no. 593, 1–7. (Also as Rhodesia agric. J. 23, 416–422.)Google Scholar
Jack, R. W. (1930). The army worm. (Laphygma exempta, Walk.).—Bull. Dep. Agric. Lds Sth. Rhod. no. 796, 27 pp. (Also as Rhodesia agric. J. 27, 912–924, 1052–1064.)Google Scholar
Jacobson, L. A. (1965). Mating and oviposition of the pale western cutworm, Agrotis orthogonia Morrison (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in the laboratory.—Can. Ent. 97, 994–1000.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, C. G. (1969). Migration and dispersal of insects by flight.—763 pp. London, Methuen.Google Scholar
Khasimuddin, S. & Lubega, M. C. (1979). Behavioural ecology of the African armyworm, Spodoptera exempta (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae); evidence of successive generations from Kenya.—Bull. ent. Res. 69, 275–282.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
King, R. C., Rubinson, A. C. & Smith, R. F. (1956). Oogenesis in adult Drosophila melanogaster.—Growth 20, 121–157.Google ScholarPubMed
Macaulay, E. D. M. (1972). Flight activity of Plusia gamma in the laboratory.—Entomologia exp. appl. 15, 387–391.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Odiyo, P. O. (1979). Development of the first outbreaks of the African armyworm, Spodoptera exempta (Walk.) between Kenya and Tanzania during the “off-season” months of July-December.—Bull. Afr. Insect Sci. 3, 14–15.Google Scholar
Page, W. W. (1985). Oocyte development in the African army worm Spodoptera exempta (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).—115 pp. M.Sc. thesis, Univ. Wales, Bangor.Google Scholar
Parker, W. E. (1983). An experimental study on the migration of the African armyworm moth Spodoptera exempta (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).—211 pp. Ph.D. thesis, Univ. Wales, Bangor.Google Scholar
Parker, W. E. & Gatehouse, A. G. (1985). Genetic factors controlling flight performance and migration in the African armyworm moth, Spodoptera exempta (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).—Bull. ent. Res. 75, 49–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Riley, J. R., Reynolds, D. R. & Farmery, M. J. (1983). Observations of the flight behaviour of the armyworm moth, Spodoptera exempta, at an emergence site using radar and infra-red optical techniques.—Ecol. Entomol. 8, 395–418.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rose, D. J. W. & Dewhurst, C. F. (1979). The African armyworm, Spodoptera exempta—congregation of moths in trees before flight.—Entomologia exp. appl. 26, 346–348.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rose, D. J. W. & Law, A. B. (1976). The synoptic weather in relation to an outbreak of the African armyworm, Spodoptera exempta (Wlk.).—J. ent. Soc. sth. Afr. 39, 125–130.Google Scholar
Rose, D. J. W., Page, W. W., Dewhurst, C. F., Riley, J. R., Reynolds, D. R., Pedgley, D. E. & Tucker, M. R. (1985). Downwind migration of the African armyworm moth, Spodoptera exempta, studied by mark-and-capture and by radar.—Ecol. Entomol. 10, 299–313.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tucker, M. R. (1984). Forecasting the severity of armyworm seasons in East Africa from early season rainfall.—Insect Sci. Applic. 5, 51–55.Google Scholar
Turgeon, J. & McNeil, J. (1982). Calling behaviour of the armyworm, Pseudaletia unipuncta.—Entomologia exp. appl. 31, 402–408.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Uvarov, B. (1966). Grasshoppers and locusts. Vol. 1.—481 pp. Cambridge, Univ. Press.Google Scholar
Uvarov, B. (1977). Grasshoppers and locusts. Vol. 2.—613 pp. London, Cent. Overseas Pest Res.Google Scholar
Whellan, J. A. (1954). The African army worm and its control.—Rhodesia agric. J. 51, 415–427.Google Scholar
Whellan, J. A. (1958). Report of the chief entomologist for the year ending 30th September, 1956.—Rhodesia agric. J. 55, 302–313.Google Scholar
Yarro, J. G. (1982). The growth, development and survival of Spodoptera exempta (Walk.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on some selected grass species.—299 pp. Ph.D. thesis, Univ. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.Google Scholar