Diurnal locomotion activity of adult rice bug, Leptocorisa chinensis (Hemiptera: Alydidae), at different ages, measured by actograph and video camera

Abstract

To elucidate the relationship between locomotion activity and reproductive status versus age after eclosion of the rice bug, Leptocorisa chinensis, locomotion activity and mating behavior were investigated by use of an actograph and video recording system. Locomotion activity of males and females 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after eclosion was recorded. High locomotion activity was observed in the scotophase. In both sexes, the activity pattern changed with age; that is, settling mode was observed in younger (3 and 7 days old) individuals and locomotion mode in older (14 and 21 days old) individuals. Locomotion activity in the scotophase in settling-mode individuals was lower than in locomotion-mode individuals, and they often stayed on rice panicles all day. On the other hand, the activity of locomotion-mode individuals was high throughout the scotophase. Most locomotion-mode males had mature gonads. Courtship and mating behavior occurred in the scotophase. The results indicate that L. chinensis adults spend a lot of time on food plants and their gonads develop during the young, teneral period. They subsequently change to the locomotive mode and move around, probably for reproductive activity.

Age and Density of Mated Females Affect Dispersal Strategies in Spider Mite Tetranychus ludeni Zacher

“…By comparing the dispersal and reproduction between 1-day-old females and older ones, we show synchronization of these two behaviors. Such a phenomenon has also been reported in many other insects, such as the light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) [ 14 ]; the tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) (Hemiptera: Miridae) [ 25 , 50 ]; the rice bug, Leptocorisa chinensis Dallas (Hemiptera: Alydidae) [ 15 ]; and the butterfly, Maculinea ( Phengaris ) teleius Bergsträsser (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) [ 11 ]. For example, in L. lineolaris , females of pre-reproductive age fly much less than gravid older females, and females with higher egg loads are more likely to fly compared to those carrying few or no eggs [ 50 ].…”

“…Many species exhibit age-specific dispersal due to the variance in reproductive costs or pressures with age [ 4 ]. Females at the age of high fecundity may have a higher dispersal probability and a longer dispersal distance over which to spread their eggs [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. The availability of resources is the major factor affecting immature fitness, and thus, mothers are expected to disperse and select habitats with sufficient resource supply or less resource competition, thereby increasing offspring fitness [ 1 , 11 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ].…”

Age and Density of Mated Females Affect Dispersal Strategies in a Spider Mite

“…This may be attributed to a resource allocation strategy of T. ludeni to maximizing reproduction during the early lifespan at high population densities [42]. The synchronization of dispersal and reproduction has also been reported in many insects such as the light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) [14], the tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) (Hemiptera: Miridae) [25,49], the rice bug, Leptocorisa chinensis Dallas (Hemiptera: Alydidae) [15], and the butterfly, Maculinea (Phengaris) teleius Bergsträsser (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) [11].…”

“…Many species exhibit age-specific dispersal due to the variance in reproductive costs or pressures with age [4]. Females at the age of high fecundity may have a higher dispersal probability and a longer dispersal distance to spread their eggs [13][14][15][16]. The availability of resources is the major factor affecting immature fitness, and thus mothers are expected to disperse and select habitats with sufficient resource supply or less resource competition, aiming to increase offspring fitness [1,11,[17][18][19][20][21].…”