Abstract
Mating of the limabean pod borer moth, Etiella zinckenella, occurred mainly from 3 to 5 hr after light-off at 25°C with a photoperiod of 16 hr. The greatest number of moths copulated the 3rd day after emergence. In 8 days, 90% had copulated. The total number of eggs laid per female was 70.8 and 112.9 in the 1981 experiments, respectively. Mated females laid eggs actively during the 1st hr after light-off, with laying decreasing thereafter. Delay in mating did not result in reduced fecundity and short preoviposition period but in prolonged longevity. About 55% of the mated females started oviposition the day following mating, and the remaining started from 2 to 9 days later. The females tended to deposit a constant number of about 20 eggs every day during the oviposition period, although there was a large variation among individual females in the ovipositional pattern.
