Laboratory Evaluation of Flight Ability in the Cabbage Head Caterpillar, Crocidolomia binotalis ZELLER (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae)

Crocidolomia binotalis is considered to migrate from overseas to the south-westernmost parts of Japan. The age-specific flight ability and the relationship between the flight and reproductive behavior of C. binotalis were studied using laboratory-reared adults. Female adults commenced their mating and oviposition at 3 or 4 days after emergence, showing a prereproductive period of about three days. Maximum consecutive flights were recorded at 4 days old for both sexes. The flight ability of female adults declined rapidly after 6 days old, whereas male adults maintained a relatively high flight ability until 8 days old. C. binotalis showed flight characteristics more suitable for long-distance flight as compared with the flight ability of a non-migratory pyralid moth, Hellula undalis. However, the present study was unable to determine whether C. binotalis has the same flight characteristics as some species of migratory pyralid moths.