Skip to main content
Log in

Effect of carbohydrate on age-related feeding behaviors and longevity in adult black cutworm,Agrotis ipsilon (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

  • Published:
Journal of Insect Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Age-related consumption and longevity were monitored in the laboratory for adultA. ipsilon fed either a 1M sucrose solution or water. An additional group was completely starved. Adults consumed sucrose solution and water just after eclosion; the percentage feeding daily and the mean daily consumption for females and males fed sucrose solution declined with time, whereas the percentage feeding daily and the mean daily consumption of those fed water increased with time. Total consumption was significantly higher for those fed sucrose solution (P<0.01) because they lived longer, but consumption per day averaged over the entire adult stage was not significantly different between those fed sucrose solution and those fed water (P>0.05). Mean longevity was significantly extended for females and males fed sucrose solution over those fed water or starved (P<0.01). Moreover, consumption of either fluid was significantly correlated with extended longevity in all groups (P<0.05). These data on fluid consumption by adultA. ipsilon are discussed relative to posteclosion migratory activities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adler, P. H. (1989). Sugar feeding of the adult corn earworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the laboratory.J. Econ. Entomol. 89: 1344–1349.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker, H. G., and Baker, I. (1983a). A brief historical review of the chemistry of floral nectar. In Bentley, B., and Elias, T. S. (eds.),The Biology of Nectaries, Columbia University Press, New York, pp. 126–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker, H. G., and Baker, I. (1983b). Floral nectar sugar constituents in relation to pollinator type. In Jones, C. E. (ed.),Handbook of Experimental Pollination Biology, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, pp. 117–141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boggs, C. L., and Ross, C. L. (1993). The effect of adult food limitation on life history traits inSpeyeria momonia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae).Ecology 74: 433–441.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conover, W. J. (1980).Practical Nonparametric Statistics, 2nd ed., John Wiley and Sons, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ditman, L. P., and Cory, E. N. (1933). The response of corn earworm moths to various sugar solutions.J. Econ. Entomol. 26: 109–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gunn, A., and Gatehouse, A. G. (1985). Effects of the availability of food and water on reproduction in the African armyworm,Spodoptera exempta.Physiol. Entomol. 10: 53–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendrix, W. H., III. (1990).Migration and Behavioral Studies of Two Noctuid (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Species Plus Feeding Observations of Some Moths Common to Iowa, Ph.D. dissertation, Iowa State University, Ames.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendrix, W. H., III, Gunnarson, D. F., and Showers, W. B. (1991). Modification of a meridic diet for rearing black cutworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae.J. Kans. Entomol. Soc. 64: 45–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, R. L., Newsom, L. D., and Gibbens, J. (1974). The soybean looper: Effects of adult nutrition on oviposition, mating frequency, and longevity.J. Econ. Entomol. 67: 467–470.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kozhantshikov, I. W. (1938). Carbohydrate and fat metabolism in adult Lepidoptera.Bull. Entomol. Res. 29: 103–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ott, L. (1984).Introduction to Statistical Methods and Data Analysis, 2nd ed., Prindle, Webber, and Schmidt, Boston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reese, J. C., English, L. M., Yonke, T. R., and Fairchild, M. L. (1972). A method for rearing black cutworm.J. Econ. Entomol. 65: 1047–1050.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sappington, T. W., and Showers, W. B. (1993). Influence of larval starvation and adult diet on long-duration flight behavior of the migratory mothAgrotis ipsilon (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).Environ. Entomol. 22(1): 141–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Showers, W. B., Keaster, A. J., Raulston, J. R., Hendrix, W. H., III, Derrick, M. E., McCorcle, M. D., Robinson, J. F., Way, M. O., Wallendorf, M. J., and Goodenough, J. L. (1993). Mechanism of southward migration of a noctuid moth [Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel)]: A complete migrant.Ecology 74(8): 2303–2314.

    Google Scholar 

  • Showers, W. B., Whitford, F., Smelser, R. B., Keaster, A. J., Robinson, J. F., Lopez, J. D., and Taylor, S. E. (1989). Direct evidence for meteorologically driven long-range dispersal of an economically important moth.Ecology 70(4): 987–992.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willers, J. L., Schnider, J. C., and Ramaswamy, S. B. (1987). Fecundity, longevity and caloric patterns in femaleHeliothis virescens: Changes with age due to flight and supplemental carbohydrate.J. Insect Physiol. 33(11): 803–808.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wynne, J. W., Keaster, A. J., Gerhardt, K. O., and Krause, G. F. (1992). Plant species identified as food sources for adult black cutworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in northwestern Missouri.J. Kans. Entomol. Soc. 64(4): 381–387.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Binder, B.F. Effect of carbohydrate on age-related feeding behaviors and longevity in adult black cutworm,Agrotis ipsilon (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). J Insect Behav 9, 215–222 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02213866

Download citation

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02213866

Key Words

Navigation