Assessing the mating status of male obliquebanded leafrollers Choristoneura rosaceana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) by dissection of male and female moths

• Author(s) / Creator(s)

  • Borden, J. H.
  • Delury, L. E.
  • Judd, G. J. R.
  • Evenden, M. L.

• Abstract: We tested several methods for assessing the mating status of male obliquebanded leafrollers, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). In four experiments, we established that the technique developed to determine mating status of male spruce budworms, Choristoneura funiferana (Clemens) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), can be used for C. rosaceana populations in western and eastern North America. Section seven of the primary simplex of the ductus ejaculatorius appeared opaque, with either a white or yellow coloration in virgin C. rosaceana males, but was clear for up to 6 days after copulation in mated males. This technique was used successfully to determine the mating status of males captured in pheromone-baited traps during the first flight of C. rosaceana in two consecutive seasons. In three laboratory experiments, we determined that the presence or absence of sclerotized bars on the surface of spermatophores dissected from female C. rosaceana is a reliable indicator of the mating status of the females' partner. Spermatophores produced by virgin males had sclerotized barring, whereas those from once-mated males did not. This technique was used to demonstrate that the mating status of males mated to tethered, virgin females did not differ between pheromone-treated and nontreated control plots.

• Date created

  2003

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Mating status
  • Choristoneura rosaceana
  • Spermatophore
  • Ductus ejaculatorius
  • Tortricidae

• Type of Item

  Article (Published)

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3R525

• License

  © 2003 Entomological Society of America. This article is the copyright property of the Entomological Society of America and may not be used for any commercial or other private purpose without specific written permission of the Entomological Society of America.