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Texas Agricultural Experiment Station 



LIFE OF UNMATED FEMALES 



Several observations were made on the length of life of the unmated 

 .females, which period is verj' irregular. The results of these observa- 

 tions are shown in table 20. 



Table 20. — Life of unmHted females. 



MATING 



During the mating period the males are more active than the females, 

 and at this time can be noticed "drumming" with their wings, the 

 vibrations of which are at times sufficient to produce a low hum. 



Mating takes place at night, as would naturally be expected from the 

 nocturnal habits of the species. In one case a pair of moths were 

 observed in coitu early in the morning, but this was no doubt an 

 abnormal condition and the female died in a short time. Another 

 case was observed when the moths were in coitu from 7 p. m. till 10 :30 

 p. m. The next morning no eggs were deposited, but the following 

 night the female began ovipositing. This was an exceptional case, as 

 the female had been coniined for a week after emergence before having 

 the opportunity to mate. 



AGE AT BEGINNING OF OVIPOSITION 



The females begin to oviposit in a comparatively short time after 

 emergence. This period, of course, varies with the brood and within 

 the brood. The comparative age of the male and of the female un- 

 doubtedly has an influence on the length of this period. The results 

 of the observations on the age of the female when the first eggs are 

 deposited are shown in table 21. 



