Original Article

Heredity (1992) 69, 255–262; doi:10.1038/hdy.1992.123

Migration and genetics of pre-reproductive period in the moth, Spodoptera exempta (African armyworm)

Kenneth Wilson1 and A G Gatehouse1

1School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales — Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK

Correspondence: Dr K. Wilson, School of Biological Sciences, Brambell Building, University of Wales — Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK

Received 28 October 1991.

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Abstract

Migration in insects occurs predominantly, or exclusively, in sexually immature adults. Therefore, the duration of the pre-reproductive period (PRP) sets an upper limit on an individual's migratory potential and has been measured by a number of authors interested in insect migration. Significant differences in PRP between field populations of the African armyworm moth Spodoptera exempta (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) are suggestive of a genetic basis to PRP regulation. The present study examines the genetics of PRP in more detail using selection and sib-analysis experiments. Both sets of experiments suggest a strong genetic component to PRP regulation in female moths, but little or none in males. Moreover, the sib-analysis experiments indicate that the X-chromosome has a disproportionate influence on PRP in females (the heterogametic sex in Lepidoptera). These results are discussed in relation to the migration biology of this species.

Keywords:

African armyworm moth, migration, pre-reproductive period, reversed response, Spodoptera exempta, X-linkage

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