Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the emergence patterns, physiological state, calling and mating rhythm of male and female adults of Trichophysetis cretacea Butle, serving to provide key technical parameters for the application of sex pheromone technology. Larvae of T. cretacea were collected in Hengxian County, Guangxi, and their eclosion, development of reproductive system, and mating behavior were systemically observed in the laboratory. Sex pheromone titers were measured and the relationship between mating behavior and age and circadian rhythm were analyzed. Furthermore, the circadian rhythm of male adults trapped by sex pheromone in the field was investigated. From the same colony of T. cretacea larvae, the number of female adults emerged was significantly more than that of male moths. Peak emergence occurred during the 14th hour of the light period, with nearly 50% of emergence. Ovaries matured at the time of emergence, while testis volume was the maximum at initial emergence, decreasing with age. The functional relationship between testis volume (y) and age (x) was y＝-0.008520x+0.09697. Sex pheromone titers measured using the extraction method showed no significant differences between different time points. However, when measured using SPME adsorption method, the highest titers were observed between 6 h and 8 h in the dark period, indicating that the timing for female moths to call and release sex pheromones was more concentrated. Mating behavior is closely related to age, with the highest mating rate occurring in 1- to 3-day-old adults, accounting for 84% of the total mating rate. Mating primarily occurred between 2 h and 6 h in the dark period. There was no significant difference in the mating time between male and female moths, nor was the duration of mating significantly different between age groups. Sex pheromone trap catch was high from 4 h in the dark period to 3 h in the light period, with the peak from 10 h in the dark period to 3 h in the light period, accounting for 81.5% of the total. Therefore, using sex pheromones to monitor and control T. cretacea borers in jasmine crops is an ideal non-chemical control measure. When an active aerosol dispenser for mating disruption is to be used, it is recommended to set the spraying time from the beginning of the dark period to the end of the 3 h light period.

Key words: Trichophysetis cretacea, calling, sex pheromone titer, mating, circadian rhythm, age