›› 2001, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (4): 428-432.

• RESEARCH PAPERS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Sexual behavior of Holcocerus insularis and circadian rhythm of its sex pheromone production and release

ZHANG Jin-tong, MENG Xian-zuo   

  • Online:2001-11-20 Published:2001-11-20

Abstract: The sexual behavior and the circadian rhythms of sex pheromone production and release in Holcocerus insularias were investigated in both laboratory and the field. Extraction of the sex pheromone from its glands and its collection from air, electroantennogram of the male in response to the sex pheromone and trap of moths with it in the field were performed. The results indicated that most of the moths became sexually mature after one day of emergence. Their nuptial flight and mating took place from 1:00 to 4:00 and the longest mating lasted for 45 minutes. The ratio of the females to the males was 1∶0.89. The maximum of the sex pheromone in glands appeared about 1:00 on the second day after emergence, and the peak of its release occurred about 2:30.The female mated 1~3 times, while most of the males did only one time during their life spans.

Key words: Holococerus insularis, sexual behavior, sex pheromone, circadian rhythm