Abstract: 【Aim】 This study aims to determine the increasing patterns of adults of the meadow moth, Loxostege sticticalis in Altay, Xinjiang, northwestern China, and the relationship between its ovarian development and population dynamics and migration. 【Methods】 L. sticticalis adults were trapped using highaltitude searchlight, and their ovaries were dissected to identify the status of ovarian development. 【Results】 The numbers of L. sticticalis adults in the study sites exhibited a phenomena of sudden increase and decrease, occurring more frequently in 2015 than in 2016. L. sticticalis disappeared on 30 August 2015 and on 22 August 2016. Adults appeared the most in the second (00:10-01:50) and third (01:50-03:30) periods during the night in 2015 and 2016. In 2015, most ovaries (65.5%) were in the stage Ⅲ when the first generation adults increased sharply, and most ovaries (69.1%) were in the stage Ⅱ from the end of July when the first generation adults decreased. In 2016, most ovaries (71.25%) were in the stage Ⅳ when the first generation adults increased sharply. In 2015 and 2016, various stages of ovaries could be found in the first generation adults in Altay, but the proportions of stages Ⅲ and Ⅳ ovaries were higher than those of other stage ovaries. 【Conclusion】 L. sticticalis in Altay, Xinjiang is the mixed population of the immigrant and local breeding populations.

Key words: Loxostege sticticalis, ovarian development, population dynamics, migration, immigration, emigration, Xinjiang