Migration and genetics of pre-reproductive period in the moth, spodoptera exempta (african armyworm)

ABSTRACT Migration in insects occurs predominantly, or exclusively, in sexually immature adults. Therefore, the duration of the pre-reproductive period (PRP) sets an upper limit on an

individual's migratory potential and has been measured by a number of authors interested in insect migration. Significant differences in PRP between field populations of the African

armyworm moth _Spodoptera exempta_ (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) are suggestive of a genetic basis to PRP regulation. The present study examines the genetics of PRP in more detail using

selection and sib-analysis experiments. Both sets of experiments suggest a strong genetic component to PRP regulation in female moths, but little or none in males. Moreover, the sib-analysis

experiments indicate that the X-chromosome has a disproportionate influence on PRP in females (the heterogametic sex in Lepidoptera). These results are discussed in relation to the

migration biology of this species. SIMILAR CONTENT BEING VIEWED BY OTHERS EXPERIMENTAL DATA SUGGEST BETWEEN POPULATION REVERSAL IN THE CONDITION DEPENDENCE OF TWO SEXUALLY SELECTED TRAITS

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REMOVES CONSTRAINTS ON REPRODUCTIVE TISSUE INVESTMENT IMPOSED BY INTENSE SEXUAL SELECTION Article Open access 04 June 2025 ARTICLE PDF REFERENCES * Becker, W A. 1984. _Manual of Quantitative

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exempta(Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)_. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Wales. Google Scholar  Download references AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * School of Biological

Sciences, University of Wales — Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK Kenneth Wilson & A G Gatehouse Authors * Kenneth Wilson View author publications You can also search for this author

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ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Wilson, K., Gatehouse, A. Migration and genetics of pre-reproductive period in the moth, _Spodoptera exempta_ (African armyworm). _Heredity_ 69, 255–262 (1992).

https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1992.123 Download citation * Received: 28 October 1991 * Issue Date: 01 September 1992 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1992.123 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you

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Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative KEYWORDS * African armyworm moth * migration * pre-reproductive period * reversed response * _Spodoptera exempta_ * X-linkage