Abstract:

In this paper, the calling behaviour and the effects of environmental temperature and photoperiodic changes oncalling behaviour and sex pheromone release in Ancylis sativa Liu were investigated. The results showed that the females calling peak period of Ancylis sativa Liu was at 6.0~8.0 hours in scotophase. The higher the temperature was, the later females called, the shorter the calling behaviour lasted. The sex pheromone titre released by females at 31℃ or 16℃ was almost only 1/5~1/4 of that released by females at 21℃. Meanwhile, the E/Z was changed with the temperature, that is Z isomer increased while the temperature decreased from 31℃ to 16℃, as well as the C.V. was perfectly controlled under 10%. Virgin females shifted to continuous dark from 14L:10D as 2-day old adults showed similar temporal patterns of both calling and pheromone production to those of moths held continuously at 14L:10D. This result indicates that both events have a circadian periodicity. When moths were shifted to continuous light at day 2, calling became inactive and irregular, whereas pheromone titres were equal or higher than those of moths under 14L:10D.

Key words: Ancylis sativa Liu, Temperature, Photoperiod, Calling behaviour, Sex pheromone