FLIGHT POTENTIAL OF FERAL HELICOVERPA-ZEA (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE) MALES MEASURED WITH A 32-CHANNEL, COMPUTER-MONITORED, FLIGHT-MILL SYSTEM

Single-night flight performances of 256 feral corn earworm males, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), were measured with a 32-channel, computer-monitored flight-mill system to evaluate their potential and propensity for engaging in long-distance, migratory-type flight. Test moths were males of mixed age that were selected randomly from daily catches in pheromone-baited traps located adjacent to fields of silking corn, Zea mays (L.), in Burleson County near College Station, TY during the period of 16 and 30 Tune 1992. Flight was observed in 96% (n = 256) of the moths tested; however, because of mortality and other factors, only 52% (134) remained capable of Eight throughout the 9.75-h simulated scotophase period. The 134 moths averaged flying a total distance of 32.53 km in 17 separate flights during 5.61 h of total Eight time which included an average maximum-duration sustained single flight of 18.8 km of 2.98 h duration. Thus, the feral H. tea males demonstrated a high potential for long-distance Eight. Other observed characteristics of moth behavior and flight performance are discussed, and the flight-mill system is described.