Circadian Rhythms of Locomotion in Six Noctuid Species

An actograph system was developed and used to record hourly locomotor activity for adult cabbage loopers, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner), soybean loopers, Pseudoplusia includens (Walker), velvetbean caterpillars, Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hubner), beet armyworms, Spodoptera exigua (Hubner), fall armyworms, S. frugiperda (J. E. Smith), and corn earworms, Heliothis zea (Boddie). The peak nocturnal activity of velvetbean caterpillars and corn earworms was greater than that of the other moths; and, except for these 2 species, males moved more often than females. Pairs were considerably less active and lived for fewer days than the isolated sexes.