Release of Backcross Insects on St. Croix to Suppress the Tobacco Budworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): Behavior and Interaction with Native Insects

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Abstract
During four releases of backcross insects to suppress native populations of Heliothis Virescens (F.) on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, the behavior of backcross insects and their interaction with native insects were studied. Backcross females were observed actively flying, feeding, and mating earlier than native females; however, no difference in time of oviposition or preference for oviposition sites was detected. Activity time of backcross and native males appeared to coincide. Mating interaction was at random between native and backcross insects when backcross insects were placed in the field as pupae and allowed to emerge. When adults were released, greater than expected intramating frequencies were observed, apparently as a result of inadequate dispersal of insects released as adults. Mating interaction between native and backcross insects was verified by an increase in sterility of native females with increased numbers of released insects. Backcross females with eupyrene sperm in their spermathecae were commonly collected.