Beyond wingbeats: dispersal capacity and morphophysiological determinants in Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

This article investigates the flight capacity and morphophysiological factors influencing the dispersal of Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a polyphagous agricultural pest known for its long-range dispersal and potential to spread insecticide resistance. Using tethered flight mill experiments on a field-derived population, the study assessed the effects of age, sex, and mating status on flight performance, finding that mating status and the number of mature eggs did not affect flight capacity, indicating no oogenesis-flight syndrome and supporting facultative migration. Middle-aged moths and males exhibited higher flight speeds and longer distances than young or old moths and females, respectively, while morphological traits such as body size and wing-to-thorax ratio negatively influenced flight duration and distance. These findings provide important insights for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Insect Resistance Management (IRM) by improving predictions of H. zea dispersal and the spread of resistance genes in agricultural landscapes.