Emergence and Reproductive Rhythm of Clostera anastomosis (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae)

Abstract Clostera anastomosis L. (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) is a serious defoliator of poplar, Populus spp., trees in China. To establish a baseline of information for possible ecological management of this pest, we studied its emergence, courtship, mating, and oviposition behaviors in the laboratory at 27 ± 1°C and 60 ± 10% relative humidity under a 14:10-h (light:dark) photoperiod. Under these conditions, peak emergence of female adults occurred in the sixth day after pupation, and peak emergence of males was in the seventh day after pupation. Emergence for both sexes occurred throughout the day. Courtship behavior began at the sixth hour of scotophase, reaching peak activity between the 10th hour of scotophase and the first hour of photophase. The courtship and mating success rate were highest for 1-d-old females, and then gradually decreased with age until no mating was observed after females were 4 d old. With 1-d-old females, mating was only observed from the seventh hour of scotophase to the first hour of photophase, with peak activity at 0.5 h after the onset of photophase. Oviposition primarily occurred within 3 d after mating, with 49.8% of the eggs being deposited during the first day after mating. These results demonstrate that there are distinct circadian rhythms in adult emergence and subsequent reproductive behavior of C. anastomosis, thus providing a basis for development of monitoring and management strategies of this pest.