Rainfall during the night can trigger non‐migratory take‐off behavior of the white‐backed planthopper, Sogatella furcifera

Take‐off behavior is crucial to the overall success of insect migration. Although most high‐altitude migratory flights commence with mass take‐offs around dusk and dawn, little is known about nighttime take‐off behavior. The take‐off behavior of migratory Sogatella furcifera was investigated in field cages from 2017 to 2019. The species showed a bimodal take‐off pattern at dusk and dawn on rainless nights, with mass flight at dusk more intense than dawn flight. However, a higher frequency of take‐offs during the nighttime was observed on rainy nights, resulting in the absence of dawn take‐offs. Most migratory take‐off individuals at dusk and dawn landed on the cage top or the walls above 150 cm, while non‐migratory individuals that took off during the nighttime due to rainfall mainly landed on the cage walls below 150 cm. Furthermore, it has been observed that migratory take‐off individuals possess stronger sustained flight capabilities and exhibit more immature ovaries compared with non‐migratory take‐offs. These findings advance our understanding of the take‐off behavior of S. furcifera and thus provide a basis for the accurate prediction and management of the migratory dynamics of this pest.