Abstract
Detailed mating behavior of the persimmon fruit moth, Stathmopoda masinissa Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae); female calling time, mating time, mating duration, and male response to virgin females and their abdominal extracts were investigated under controlled laboratory conditions. Female moths typically exposed their abdominal tips for calling, and males responded by showing a series of 4 behavioral components; fierce antennal swing (AS), orientation flight (OF), mating dance (MD), abdominal contact (AC) and copulation (CP). The maximal calling and mating was concentrated at the end of scotophase. Time profiles of these behaviors were affected by adult age as well as generation tested. Crude extracts of female abdominal tips significantly elicited a series of reproductive behaviors from male moths. The hind femural hair-tuft of both sexes seems to not be related to the mating behavior. Pheromonal activity of the female abdominal extract increased with the dose of the extract up to 5 female equivalents. The threshold doses for MD and AC were significantly higher than those for AS and OF.
