Effects of photoperiod on the mating and oviposition of Brithys crini (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Key Words：Brithys crini; photoperiod; mating; oviposition

Abstract：         To understand the effects of photoperiod on the mating and oviposition of Brithys crini (Fabricius), the behaviors of adult in 5 photoperiods (L14: D10, L16: D8, L18: D6, L20: D4 and L22: D2) were observed under the laboratory conditions. The results indicated: (1) when photoperiod was L14: D10, L16: D8, L18: D6, L20: D4 and L22: D2, there was significant difference in the total mating percentage of adult (26.09%, 31.25% , 17.93%, 26.32% and 11.76%, respectively) or mating percentage in dark phase (100.00%, 83.33%, 100% , 75.00% and 100%); Mating onset of adult (21:00, 22:00, 0:00, 3:00 and 5:00, respectively) and mating peak time (21:00～22:00, 1:00～2:00, 3:00～5:00, 4:00～5:00 and 5:00～6:00) delayed with light-off delaying. (2) There was also significant difference in oviposition per mated female (441.33, 453.80, 414.00, 120.80 and 145.50 eggs) or oviposition per unmated female (115.35, 77.09, 90.21, 17.79 and 12.07 eggs) under different photoperiod; Oviposition peaks occurred during 1:00～4:00 for L14: D 10, L16: D 8 and L18: D 6, 4:00～5:00 for L20: D 4 and 6:00～7:00 in light phase for L22: D 2. The results showed there were different effects of different photoperiod on mating and oviposition of B. crini adult.