Laboratory Evaluation of Flight Performance of the Plum Curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Abstract

Flight performance of laboratory-reared adults of the plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), was investigated under controlled conditions by using a flight mill system. Across all insects tested (n=198), median values of total distance traveled, total flight time, and maximum uninterrupted flight time were 122.7 m day(-1), 23.5 min day(-1), and 2.0 min, respectively. The latter result indicates that flight occurred primarily in short bursts. Although females had a significantly higher body mass than males, there were no significant differences in flight performance between the two sexes. Flight during the first 24-h test period (especially the first 6 h) was dominated by escape behavior, i.e., elevated levels of activity presumably associated with attempts by the insects to regain freedom of movement; during the second 24 h, flight activity was very limited throughout the late morning and afternoon, increased around sunset, and remained high during the night. All flight performance variables decreased linearly and significantly with insect age over the age range tested (2-16 d after emergence). Nutritional status also had a significant effect, whereby insects that had been provided with apples as a food source for 2 d after emergence showed considerably improved flight performance compared with those that had been given no food or only water during the same period. There was no significant effect of mating status on flight performance of male or female insects.

Assessing the Flight Capabilities of the Goldspotted Oak Borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) With Computerized Flight Mills

“…In contrast, the ßight distance and duration of mated emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) females was signiÞcantly greater than unmated females and males when tethered to ßight mills, which suggested that females of this species may be programmed for dispersal ßights following mating (Taylor et al 2010). However, the lack of mating and gender effects on the overall ßight performance of A. auroguttatus adults is similar to that reported for the plum curculio Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst) (Chen et al 2006) and the Chinese white pine beetle (Dendroctonus armandi) (Chen et al 2011), respectively. SigniÞcant interactions between nutrition and age were observed in the total ßight distance, ßight time, velocity, number of ßight bouts, and ßight bout time for A. auroguttatus. Age had a signiÞcant effect on ßight performance when adults were starved, but not when adults were fed, which resulted in overall decreased ßight activity in old, starved individuals during the 24-h trial period.…”

Combined Effects of Heat Stress and Food Supply on Flight Performance of Olive Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

“…It is not surprising that nutritional status or diet would affect insect ßight performance, given that ßight is a highly energy-intensive activity (Mason et al 1989, Candy et al 1997. Carbohydrate deprivation often affects ßight ability in many insects (Sappington et al 1995, Chen et al 2006, Shirai 2006. Using the identical ßight mill apparatus as we did, Zermeñ o (2005) showed that diets significantly affected the ßight performance of C. capitata and R. completa.…”

“…Females are stronger ßiers than males in some species (Hughes and Dorn 2002, Blackmer et al 2004, Wu et al 2006, whereas males are better in other species (e.g., Moriya and Hiroyoshi 1998). However, for many species there is no difference in ßight performance between sexes [e.g., the weevil Listronotus bonariensis (Kuschel) (Goldson 1981); codling moth, Cydia pomonella L. (Schumacher et al 1997); walnut husk ßy (Zermeñ o 2005); and plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst) (Chen et al 2006)]. Remund et al (1977) reported that 14-d-old B. oleae females ßew a longer distance than males, but there was no signiÞcant difference between 2-d-old males and females.…”

Flight Performance of the Orange Wheat Blossom Midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)

“…The orange wheat blossom midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana (Gé hin) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), is a widespread chronic wheat pest across Eurasia and North America (Chen et al 2006). The females oviposit on the surface of an inßorescence and larvae feed on the developing seeds.…”