THE MATING STATUS OF FIELD-COLLECTED MALE SPRUCE BUDWORM, CHORISTONEURA FUMIFERANA (CLEM.) (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE), IN RELATION TO TRAP LOCATION, SAMPLING METHOD, SAMPLING DATE, AND ADULT EMERGENCE

Abstract

AbstractMale spruce budworm moths, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.), were captured in 1986 and 1987 and the proportion recently mated was determined for each sample. Mating status was examined in relation to trap location, sampling method, sampling date, and adult emergence. On a given day the proportion of recently mated males captured was similar among pheromone-baited traps both within and among test sites. The number of males trapped increased with increasing trap elevation, although there was no difference in the proportion of mated males at each elevation. Males exhibiting “mate-location behaviour” were captured individually with an insect net and were found to be mated in the same proportion as those caught in pheromone-baited traps. The proportion of recently mated males trapped tended to increase during the early part of the flight season, to fluctuate during the middle portion, and then to decline toward the end of the season. This pattern was due, in part, to adult emergence trends.