Measurement of flight speed and estimation of flight distance of the bean bug, Riptortus pedestris (Fabricius) (Heteroptera: Alydidae) and the rice bug, Leptocorisa chinensis Dallas (Heteroptera: Alydidae) with a speed sensor and flight mills

We investigated the flight speed and flight duration of Riptortus pedestris (Fabricius) (Heteroptera: Alydidae) and Leptocorisa chinensis Dallas (Heteroptera: Alydidae) to estimate their flight distance by measuring the speed of stinkbugs flying towards a window in a room with a speed sensor. R. pedestris flew faster than L. chinensis although there was no difference in speed between sexes. R. pedestris flew fastest at 29 degrees C and slowest at 19 degrees C; however, the flight speed of L. chinensis was not significantly different among 29, 25, and 19 degrees C. Flight duration was measured using a flight mill for 22 hours tinder L13 : D11 at 25 degrees C. The results showed that L. chinensis flew significantly longer than R. pedestris, and there was no difference between the sexes. From the product of flight speed and flight duration, the estimated R. pedestris flight distance was 3.1-4.6 km day(-1), and L. chinensis was 24.2-29.4 km. Flight distances calculated using only the flight mill were shorter than with a speed sensor.