Abstract
Adults of the noctuid moth Autographa gamma undertake seasonal migrations into areas where they are unable to breed continuously. Individuals migrate into Britain each spring and offspring of these migrants probably return in autumn to over-wintering areas in North Africa and the Middle East, although the existence of these return migrations has been questioned. Insects usually migrate during the adults' pre-reproductive period (PRP). The length of this period is therefore an index of migratory potential because individuals with longer PRPs have more time to express their potential for flight and to travel further. Significant, positive full-sib correlations showed that female offspring with long PRPs came from families where their brothers had correspondingly long PRPs. This suggests that the same genes control the rate of reproductive development in both sexes. There was a rapid response to selection for short and long PRP, with separation of the Unes by the second generation of selection. Sib-analysis and parent-offspring regressions showed that the genes with the greatest influence on PRP are X-linked, although there is also an autosomal influence. The significance of X-linkage of genes controlling the PRP is discussed in relation to the migratory strategy of A. gamma.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Balachowsky, A S. 1972. Entomologie appliquée à agriculture. Lepidoptines, 2, 1145–1159.
Bjostad, L B, Gaston, L K, and Shorey, H H. 1980. Temporal pattern of sex pheromone release by female Trichoplusia ni. J Insect Physiol, 26, 493–498.
Caldwell, R L, and Hegmann, J P. 1969. Heritability of flight duration in the milkweed bug Lygaeus kalmii. Nature, 223, 91–92.
Charlesworth, B, Coyne, J A, and Barton, N H. 1987. The relative rates of evolution of sex chromosomes and autosomes. Am Nat, 130, 113–146.
Colvin, J C. 1990. Laboratory studies on the regulation of migration in the cotton bollworm Heliothis armigera (Hb) (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae) PhD Thesis, University of Wales.
Colvin, J C, and Gatehouse, A G. 1993. The reproduction-flight syndrome and the inheritance of tethered-flight activity in the cotton-bollworm moth. Heliothis armigera Physiol Entomol, 18(1).
Dingle, H, and Evans, K E. 1987. Responses in flight to selection on wing length in non-migratory milkweed bugs, Oncopeltusfasciatus. Entomol Exp Applic, 45, 289–296.
Falconer, D S. 1989. Introduction to Quantitative Genetics. 3rd edn. Longman, London.
Fisher, K. 1938. Migrations of the Silver Y moth (Plusia gamma) in Great Britain. J Anim Ecol, 7, 230–247.
French, R A. 1969. Migration of Laphygma exigua Hubner (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae) to the British Isles in relation to large scale weather systems. J Anim Ecol, 38, 199–210.
Han, E. 1988. Laboratory studies on the regulation of migration in the Oriental armyworm Mythimna separata (Walker) (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). PhD thesis, University of Wales.
Han, E, and Gatehouse, A G. 1991a. Genetics of precalling period in the oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata (Walker) (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae), and implications for migration. Evolution, 45, 1502–1510.
Han, E, and Gatehouse, A G. 1991b. Effect of temperature and photoperiod on the calling behaviour of a migratory insect, the oriental armyworm Mythimna separata. Physiol Entomol, 16, 419–427.
Han, E, and Gatehouse, A G. 1993. Flight capacity: genetic determination and physiological constraints in a migratory moth Mythimna separata. Physiol Entomol (in press).
Hill, J K. 1991. Regulation of migration and migratory strategy of Autographa gamma (L) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). PhD thesis, University of Wales.
Hill, J K, and Gatehouse, A G. 1993. Effects of temperature and photoperiod on development and pre-reproductive period of the silver Y moth Autographa gamma (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Bull Entomol Res, (in press).
Hurst, G W. 1969. Insect migrations to the British Isles. Quart J R Meteorol Soc, 95, 435–439.
Johnson, C G. 1969. Migration and Dispersal of Insects by Flight. Methuen & Co., Ltd, London.
Li, K, Wong, H-H, and Woo, W-S. 1964. Route of the seasonal migration of the oriental armyworm moth in the eastern part of China as indicated by a three year result of releasing and recapturing marked moths. (English summary.). Acta Phyto Sin, 3, 101–110.
Lindfors, C E, Mikkola, K, and Ahti, K. 1989. First record of Protexarnis squalida (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae) from Northern Europe with analysis of a long-range migration. Not Entomol, 69, 5–12.
Lingren, P D, Henneberry, T J, and Sparks, A N. 1979. Current knowledge and research on movement of the Cabbage Looper and related Looper species. In: Rabb, R. L. & Kennedy, G. G. (eds). Movement of Highly Mobile Insects: Concepts and Methodology in Research. North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
McAnelly, M L. 1985. The adaptive significance and control of migratory behaviour in the grasshopper, Melanopus sanguipes. In: Rankin, M. A. (ed.) Migration: Mechanisms and Adaptive Significance. Contributions in Marine Science, vol. 27, Marine Science Institute, University of Texas at Austin.
Mikkola, K, and Salmensuu, P. 1965. Migration of Laphygma exigua Hb. (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae) in N. W. Europe in, 1964. Ann Zool Fenn, 2, 124–139.
Palmer, J O, and Dingle, H. 1986. Direct and correlated responses to selection among life-history traits in milk-weed bugs (Oncopeltus fasciatus). Evolution, 40, 767–777.
Palmer, J O, and Dingle, H. 1989. Responses of selection on flight behaviour in a migratory population of milkweed bugs (Oncopeltus fasciatus). Evolution, 43, 1805–1808.
Parker, W E, and Gatehouse, A G. 1985. Genetic factors controlling flight performance and migration in the African armyworm moth, Spodoptera exempta (Walker) (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). Bull Entomol Res, 75, 49–63.
Rabb, R L, and Stinner, R E. 1978. The role of insect dispersal and migration in population processes. NASA Conf Publ, 2070, 3–16.
Ryrholm, N, and Kallander, C F R. 1987. Autographa mandarina (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae) in eastern Sweden in 1985. (English summary). Entomol Tidsk, 108, 130–134.
Spitzer, K. 1972. Seasonal adult activity of Scotia ipsilon Hfn. (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae) in Bohemia. Acta Entomol Bohem, 69, 396–400.
Stinner, R E, Barfield, C S, Stimac, J L, and Dohse, L. 1983. Dispersal and movement of insect pests. Ann Rev Entomol, 28, 319–335.
Szocs, G, and Toth, M. 1979. Daily rhythm and age dependence of female calling behaviour and male responsiveness to sex pheromone in the gamma moth Autographa gamma (L.) (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). Acta Phytopath Acad Sci Hung, 14, 453–459.
Turgeon, J J, and McNeil, J N. 1983. Modifications in the calling behaviour of Pseudaletia unipuncta (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae) induced by temperature conditions during pupal and adult development. Can Entomol, 115, 1015–1022.
Walker, T J. 1980. Migrating lepidoptera: are butterflies better than moths? Fl Entomol, 63, 79–98.
Wilson, K, and Gatehousem, A G. 1992. Migration and genetics of the pre-reproductive period in the African armyworm moth, Spodoptera exempta. Heredity, 69, 255–262.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hill, J., Gatehouse, A. Genetic control of the pre-reproductive period in Autographa gamma (L.) (Silver Y moth) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Heredity 69, 458–464 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1992.150
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1992.150
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
DNA Sequence Variation of the Tobacco Cutworm, Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Determined by Mitochondrial A+T-rich Region and Nuclear ITS2 Sequences
Biochemical Genetics (2011)
-
Migration and genetic regulation of the pre-reproductive period in the Cotton-bollworm moth, Helicoverpa armigera
Heredity (1993)
-
Migration and genetics of pre-reproductive period in the moth, Spodoptera exempta (African armyworm)
Heredity (1992)