Survival, emergence, and release of laboratory-reared, backcross tobacco budworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) pupae shipped from Stoneville, Miss., to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

A pilot test was conducted on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, to determine the feasibility of controlling the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.), by releasing back-cross insects possessing an inherited male sterility resulting from interspecific hybridization. During 1979 and 1980, four separate releases were made and adult emergence (ca. 90%) was excellent. Moth emergence began in the early evening hours. For any particular shipment, females emerged sooner than males. After release, numbers of males trapped declined rapidly, suggesting a survival of 3-5 days and an intermating period of no more than 2 nights.