MATING FLIGHT BEHAVIOUR IN THREE SPECIES OF <i>ONCOPERA</i> MOTHS (LEPIDOPTERA: HEPIALIDAE)

Abstract

Abstract Field observations were made on the mating and oviposition behaviour of the hepialid moths, Oncopera alboguttata, O. rufobrunnea and O. tindalei . The three species, which are pasture pests in the New England district of New South Wales, have superficially similar behaviour patterns but a number of differences were observed. In particular, the behaviour of O. alboguttata differs from that of the other two species in several respects. The behaviour patterns of the three species are compared with those of O. intricata and O. fasciculata which have been studied by other workers.