Reproduction does not impede the stopover departure to ensure a potent migration in Cnaphalocrocis medinalis moths

Despite the importance of reproduction in insects, its relation with multi‐stop flight remains poorly understood in migratory species. To clarify whether reproductive maturation commences during the multi‐stop flight or after the completion of migration, we conducted physiological and behavioral assays in the rice leaf roller Cnaphalocrocis medinalis with laboratory‐simulated conditions and field‐captured populations. We found that the ovarian development was significantly promoted by tethered flight treatment for 1–2 nights when compared to the unflown group, while the flight muscle development was not impaired. There was no significant difference in flight duration, flight distance and flight velocity between mated and virgin female moths, indicating that mated moths remained competent for the subsequent flights as did the virgins. Using an integrated field assay, we identified that over 60% of the female moths in the migrating populations captured by high‐altitude searchlights in the Immigration period of a season had completed the ovarian development and mating. Sexually mature and mated moths collected in the rice field in the Emigration period were found capable of engaging in migratory take‐off, as observed using an indoor monitoring platform. Overall, our findings point out that C. medinalis managed to complete reproductive maturation to a large extent during the multi‐stop migratory flight without compromising the migration performance. Such a cost‐effective strategy ensures a successful migration for the moths. These findings advance our understanding of the relationship between reproduction and migration, thus shedding light on the development of novel control measures for the outbreak of migratory insect pests.