Effect of body size and larval experience on mate preference in Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lep., Noctuidae)

Abstract: We studied the mating selection in the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), in relation to body size and larval diet in the laboratory. When provided with an artificial diet at larval stage, weight, body and forewing length did not affect the probability of a male/female moth being selected for mating, but the abdominal width of selected female moths was significantly wider than that of non‐selected female moths. 30 female moths were dissected and number of eggs was counted after mating, and there was a correlation between the abdominal width and egg number. There was also significant difference of weight loss between selected and non‐selected male/female moths after the mating. The effect of operational sex ratio on mating latency and copulation duration were tested, and the result indicated that mating latency of male selection was significantly longer than that of female selection, but the difference of copulation duration was not significant. Cotton, corn and peanut plants were provided to larvae to test the effect of larval host plant experience on mate choice. When cotton‐ and peanut‐fed moth severed as potential partners, both female and male of cotton‐fed moths significantly preferred cotton‐ to peanut‐fed moths for mating. The possible reasons for mate preference based on larval host plant experience may account for host plants attributes on sex pheromone variation and sexual maturity. These findings may impact Bacillus thuringiensis resistance management.