Temporal pattern of adult emergence and sexual behavior of Scopula subpunctaria (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

The objective of this research was to study the reproductive behavior (emergence, calling, mating and oviposition) of Scopula subpunctaria (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) under laboratory conditions (26 ± 1 °C, 12 h photophase and 75 ± 1% RH). The emergence occurred during the scotophase and photophase, but mainly during the scotophase. Females and males simultaneously emerged during the 1st to 12th h of scotophase. However, the calling and mating behavior were limited to nocturnal hours. Adults were engaged in sexual activity (calling) as soon as one day after emergence. Virgin females began calling actively at 2.5 h–3 h into the scotophase, and with a peak occurring at 7.5 h of the scotophase. The maximum number of mating occurred when the couple was 2-d-old, the longest mating duration occurred when the couple was 5-d-old (230 ± 20.2 min), and the mating peak occurred from 6 h to 8 h of scotophase. The males could mate twice and females only mate once. Oviposition behavior also occurred during the scotophase. Females laid eggs from the first day after mating until the eighth day, with a peak occurring at the second day (111 ± 5.6). The emergence, calling, mating and oviposition patterns of S. subpunctaria are discussed and future research is outlined. New technology is currently available for the control of this pest, possibly involving the use of pheromones for trapping or disrupting the mating cycle of the insect.