Evaluation of the Potential Flight Ability of the Casuarina Moth, Lymantria xylina (Lepidoptera: Erebidae).

Lymantria xylina Swinhoe (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) is a potentially invasive pest, similar to Lymantria dispar asiatica Vnukovskij and Lymantria dispar japonica Motschulsky (Lepidoptera: Erebidae). To evaluate its potential for spread and flight distance related to egg deposition on vessels at ports, we employed a flight mill to assess the flight capabilities of its adults under varying conditions. Our findings revealed that females primarily flew short distances and ceased flying after 3:00 AM, whereas males covered much longer distances throughout the day. Sex, age, and flight duration significantly influenced flight ability. Females exhibited weaker flight capability than males, and their ability declined with increasing age or flight duration. Notably, 1-day-old moths displayed the strongest flight ability, with average flight distances of up to 3.975 km for females and 8.441 km for males. By the fifth day, females no longer flew, and males experienced reduced flight ability. After continuous hanging for 16 h, females lost most of their flight capacity, while males remained capable of flight even after 32 h. Additionally, female flight ability decreased significantly after mating, possibly due to factors such as egg-carrying capacity, weight, and load ratio. This study provides a foundation for assessing the risk of long-distance dispersal of L. xylina via ocean-going freighters, considering female moths' phototactic flight and oviposition.

Advancing new approaches to improve sexual health education for primary school students in the context of healthy China plan / 中国学校卫生

Abstract@#Healthy China plan points out the importance of adolescent sexual health education in China. Currently, school and family provide little sexual health education for adolescent, and the existing sexual health services is given priority to teenagers and college students. There is an urgent need to design and provide an effective sexuality education for pupils in China. Guided by the social-ecological approach to health and sexuality education standards from UNESCO and China, a well-designed sexual health education model (four groups and four levels) was implemented among primary school students of grade 5 and 6, characterized in family-school partnership, major concern to the whole society, as well as various forms and deep participation. The model provides a frame for researchers and practitioners about the basic theory, project design and activity implementation.