Mating frequency in wild females of Copitarsia consueta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Females of Copitarsia consueta were captured with light traps in cabbage fields in Mexico. The number of spermatophores in the bursa copulatrix determined the frequency of matings. All captured females were mated and the highest number of spermatophores found was 4 per female (X̄ = 2.7 ± EEM 0.058). The first author thanks the support from CONACyT for the realization of his master studies (register number 91489). We thank Dr. Gloria Davila Ortiz (former head from CeProBi-I.P.N.) for support offered during the course of this study. We also thank Julio Rojas (Ecosur) for review of an earlier version of the manuscript.