The clover cutworm, Anarta trifolii (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), constitutes a polyphagous pest known for causing sporadic, local outbreaks that significantly damage Beta vulgaris, Gossypium hirsutum, Brassica oleracea and others. Evidence supports the occurrence of seasonal migration in this species, but the determinants of A. trifolii flight performance remain unexplored. Understanding the species’ flight performance is essential for predicting its long-distance dispersal, identifying source and sink populations, and improving regional pest forecasting. We characterized flight performance and its influencing factors via computer-monitored flight mills. Maximum flight performance was achieved in A. trifolii adults at two days, followed by a significant decline with increasing age. At 24 °C and 80% relative humidity (RH), in a 12 h test, males and females aged two days achieved total flight distances of 38.90 ± 1.21 km and 31.70 ± 1.56 km, respectively. In a 24 h test, three-day-old adults reached a maximum flight speed of 19.68 km/h, a sustained flight duration of 17.38 h, a total flight duration of 23.89 h, a sustained flight distance of 69.64 km, and a total flight distance of 96.56 km. The flight performance of A. trifolii was significantly affected by both temperature and RH, with the maximum flight capacity achieved at 18–28 °C and 35–80% RH. Flight performance was significantly enhanced when A. trifolii were fed honey or sucrose. Moreover, the wingbeat frequency of A. trifolii adults varied among age groups, ranging from 31.90 to 57.65 Hz. In females, the wingbeat frequency peaked at 2 days old (46.72 ± 0.25 Hz), whereas in males it peaked at 10 days old (47.18 ± 0.66 Hz). These results advance the fundamental understanding of A. trifolii migration and offer practical applications, including improved pest management strategies, optimized use of chemical insecticides and biological control agents, and enhanced decision-making in integrated pest management programs.
Sun et al. (Tue,) studied this question.