Time of emergence, mating, sperm movement, and transfer of ejaculatory duct secretory fluid by Heliothis virescens (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under reversed light-dark cycle laboratory conditions

In laboratory studies under reversed light-dark photoperiods, highest percentages of Heliothis virescens moths emerged during the first 6 h after initiation of the dark period. The primary simplex area of newly emerged male moths contained a dense, gel-like, creamy-white secretory fluid that became orange white in 5 to 10 h and progressively deepened in color to a dark-red-maroon color by 24 to 48 h. Apyrene sperm occurred in the duplex of the ejaculatory duct of male moths within 1 to 3 h after emergence from the pupae and sperm bundles within 5 to 7 h. The red fluid remained identifiable in unmated male moths through their lives and was transferred to female moths during the first mating and did not recur in the male simplex. The material remained identifiable in the female's bursa copulatrix during her entire life. First moth matings occurred ca. 3 h after the initiation of the dark period, and about 98% of the mating occurred between h 3 and 8 of the dark period.