Pheromone titer and calling in Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): Effect of mating with normal and sterile backcross males

Sex pheromone production was terminated in mated Heliothis virescens (F.) females, and the titer of the pheromone in the pheromone gland reached a very low level within 2 h following mating. Mated females did not call and were nonreceptive to males following mating. However, mated females resumed pheromone production and became receptive on nights following the night of mating. Mating with backcross sterile males (obtained by backcrossing female hybrid progeny of H. virescens and H. subflexa (Guenee) cross to H. virescens males) also caused termination of pheromone production and receptivity.