Preliminary evaluation of the flight ability of the rice leaf bug, Trigonotylus caeleslialium (Kirkaldy) (Heteroptera; Miridae), investigated by tethered flight technique.

Effects of aging and copulation on the flight ability of the rice leaf bug, Trigonotlylus caelestialium (Kirkaldy), were investigated by a tethered flight technique. Three day old unmated females showed the longest total flight duration per 1 h. A high flight activity in 3 day old females appears to be closely related to mating behavior. There was little difference in the flight activity of unmated males at all ages. The flight activity in 5 day old females was similar to 5 day old unmated females. Therefore, mating status does not appear to affect the flight activity of females. We conclude that the flight activity of adult bugs is low and they repeat short flights in their habitats and among the host plants in the field.