不同波段LED光源对毛健夜蛾行为的影响

为探明不同波段LED光对毛健夜蛾Brithys crini (Fabricius)行为的影响, 在实验条件下观察了4种不同波段（红光： 620~625 nm; 绿光： 520~523 nm; 蓝色： 465~467 nm; 白光： 460~465 nm）LED光源下毛健夜蛾幼虫的假死、 爬行、 静止、 取食、 排便、 瞭望及其他行为和成虫交配及产卵行为。结果表明： （1）毛健夜蛾幼虫在红光、 绿光、 蓝光和白光4种LED光源下, 爬行、 静止和取食行为时间分配差异极显著（爬行、 静止和取食： P=0.000）, 红光组爬行的时间占98.06%, 绿光组取食时间占83.65%, 蓝光组爬行和静止时间占91.56%, 白光组爬行时间占61.16%; 爬行、 静止、 取食、 瞭望及其他行为发生率差异显著, 红光组和白光组爬行行为发生率最高, 分别为47.37%和32.00%, 绿光组取食行为发生率最高为40.00%, 蓝光组爬行行为发生率最高为32.35%; （2）毛健夜蛾跌落幼虫在4种LED光源下, 假死发生率差异不显著, 但假死持续时间有显著性差异, 红光组假死持续时间显著长于蓝光组和白光组; （3）4种LED光源处理后, 交配和未交配的单雌产卵量无显著差异; （4）第1-2天的暗期分别使用4种光源, 则交配和产卵高峰均出现在第3天的暗期, 而第1-2天的暗期不使用光源, 则交配和产卵高峰出现在第1天的暗期。这些研究结果初步揭示了不同波段光源对毛健夜蛾行为影响不同。     

溴氰虫酰胺亚致死剂量对甜菜夜蛾生长发育及体内解毒酶活性的影响

【目的】探讨溴氰虫酰胺对甜菜夜蛾 Spodoptera exigua (Hübner)的亚致死效应,为甜菜夜蛾的综合防治和溴氰虫酰胺的合理使用提供理论依据。【方法】采用饲料混毒法,测定溴氰虫酰胺对甜菜夜蛾3龄幼虫的毒力,确定其亚致死剂量（LC₁₀和LC₂₅）,并分别用该亚致死剂量处理甜菜夜蛾3龄幼虫,研究其对甜菜夜蛾的生长发育和体内3种解毒酶活性的影响。【结果】以LC₁₀ 和LC₂₅剂量处理甜菜夜蛾3龄幼虫后,幼虫生长受到显著抑制,虫重抑制率分别为11.55%和27.68%;LC₁₀和LC₂₅处理组3龄幼虫到化蛹天数分别比对照组延长0.07和0.20 d;化蛹率显著低于对照组（80.93%）,分别为63.89%和49.43%;成虫寿命显著缩短1.11 d和2.08 d;单雌产卵量和卵孵化率也低于对照组。亚致死剂量溴氰虫酰胺处理甜菜夜蛾幼虫后24-96 h,羧酸酯酶活性和谷胱甘肽-S转移酶活性表现出相似的变化趋势,呈先激活升高、后被抑制降低;而多功能氧化酶活性在药剂处理48 h和72 h均受到不同程度的抑制作用,这种抑制作用与浓度成正比。【结论】亚致死剂量的溴氰虫酰胺对甜菜夜蛾的生长发育有显著抑制作用,对其幼虫体内解毒酶活性也有不同程度的抑制作用。     

不同方式诱导植物抗性对甜菜夜蛾幼虫及其寄生蜂斑痣悬茧蜂发育表现的影响

【目的】明确诱导植物抗性对植食性昆虫甜菜夜蛾 Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) 及内寄生蜂斑痣悬茧蜂 Meteorus pulchricornis (Wesmael) 生长发育的影响。【方法】采用取食损伤、机械损伤及外源喷施3种浓度 (0.01, 0.1和1 mmol/L) 茉莉酸甲酯 (MeJA) 3种方式来诱导菜薹抗性,观察甜菜夜蛾初孵幼虫及其寄生蜂斑痣悬茧蜂的发育表现。【结果】取食取食损伤和茉莉酸甲酯处理的菜薹后,甜菜夜蛾幼虫存活率显著降低,茉莉酸甲酯浓度与幼虫存活呈负相关; 取食0.1 mmol/L MeJA处理的菜薹后,甜菜夜蛾幼虫体重显著低于清水对照。甜菜夜蛾取食取食损伤和0.1 mmol/L MeJA处理的菜薹,其寄生蜂斑痣悬茧蜂幼虫的死亡率显著增加,同时结茧率显著降低;0.1 mmol/L MeJA处理的菜薹使成蜂体重显著低于对照。不同处理间斑痣悬茧蜂的卵巢发育无明显差异,卵巢由8~10根卵巢管组成,羽化24 h后成熟卵数量为7~10个,成熟卵的长度和宽度分别为350和78 μm。【结论】结果说明,取食损伤和茉莉酸甲酯处理诱导的菜薹反应会影响甜菜夜蛾的存活和大小,进而抑制斑痣悬茧蜂生长。     

金龟子绿僵菌对斜纹夜蛾幼虫的生防效果、抗氧化酶活性和肠道细菌群落的影响

【目的】测定金龟子绿僵菌(Metarhizium anisopliae)对斜纹夜蛾(Spodoptera litura) 2龄幼虫的毒力,研究金龟子绿僵菌侵染后寄主体内抗氧化酶活性和肠道内细菌群落的变化,探讨斜纹夜蛾对金龟子绿僵菌侵染的防御机制。【方法】采用浸渍法测定不同浓度金龟子绿僵菌对斜纹夜蛾2龄幼虫的毒力;应用IlluminaMiSeq高通量测序技术测定肠道细菌群落。【结果】不同浓度的孢悬液对斜纹夜蛾2龄幼虫均有一定的毒力,处理7 d时半致死浓度(LC_(50))为3.944 107个孢子/mL;浓度为1.0×10~9个孢子/mL时,半致死时间最短(LT_(50))为4.6 d,校正后的死亡率为81.03%。处理后未致死的斜纹夜蛾幼虫体内抗氧化酶活性显著高于对照组。处理后致死的斜纹夜蛾幼虫肠道细菌群落多样性显著高于对照组;且处理后致死的斜纹夜蛾幼虫肠道细菌群落组成与对照组差异显著。【结论】金龟子绿僵菌对斜纹夜蛾幼虫的致死率和致死效率与金龟子绿僵菌的浓度呈正相关;斜纹夜蛾幼虫体内的抗氧化酶可能在抵抗金龟子绿僵菌侵染的过程中起重要作用。金龟子绿僵菌的侵染会导致斜纹夜蛾幼虫肠道细菌群落多样性升高和组成发生变化,Enterococcus、Escherichia和Pseudomonas等属可能是影响斜纹夜蛾幼虫抵抗金龟子绿僵菌侵染致死的重要因素。     

乙基多杀菌素对草地贪夜蛾幼虫的毒力及对其解毒酶和乙酰胆碱酯酶活性的影响

【目的】为了研究乙基多杀菌素对草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda幼虫的毒力及作用机制。【方法】以氯虫苯甲酰胺为对照,采用表面涂抹法测定了乙基多杀菌素对草地贪夜蛾2, 3和4龄幼虫的LC_(50)和LC_(90)。采用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA),测定不同浓度乙基多杀菌素(0.127, 0.183, 0.250, 0.400和0.572 mg/L)处理48 h后草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫体内多功能氧化酶(MFO)、谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶(GST)、羧酸酯酶(CarE)以及乙酰胆碱酯酶(AchE)的活性。【结果】与氯虫苯甲酰胺相比,乙基多杀菌素对草地贪夜蛾幼虫具有更高的毒力,处理48 h后对2, 3和4龄幼虫的LC_(50)值分别为0.21, 0.34和0.59 mg/L, LC_(90)值分别为0.59, 0.75和2.01 mg/L。经过乙基多杀菌素处理后,草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫体内MFO和AchE活性均表现随着浓度的增加而显著增加,二者均在0.572 mg/L处理时活性最高,分别为52.23和23.98 U/mg pro; CarE活性在低浓度乙基多杀菌素处理(0.127和0.183 mg/L)下相对于溶剂对照(0.1%Tween-80)无显著变化,随着浓度增加至0.400与0.572 mg/L时,其活性显著增加; GST活性表现为随着乙基多杀菌素浓度增加而增加的特点,当处理浓度为0.400与0.572 mg/L时,其活性无显著性差异。【结论】乙基多杀菌素对草地贪夜蛾幼虫的杀虫效果优于氯虫苯甲酰胺,尤其对4龄幼虫效果最为明显;在不同浓度的乙基多杀菌素处理条件下,草地贪夜蛾幼虫体内的CarE, MFO和AchE活性有所增高。     

莱氏绿僵菌FJMR2对草地贪夜蛾不同虫态的致病性研究

【目的】为明确莱氏绿僵菌Metarhizium rileyi FJMR2对草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda的生物防治潜力。【方法】在室内条件下,采用浸渍法测定了莱氏绿僵菌FJMR2对草地贪夜蛾卵、幼虫和蛹的致病性。【结果】当孢子浓度为2×10⁸孢子/m L时,草地贪夜蛾1-5龄幼虫和蛹的校正死亡率分别为100%、95.78%、87.15%、64.67%、38.00%和93.93%;草地贪夜蛾1-5龄幼虫和蛹的LC_(50)分别为3.12×108孢子/m L时,草地贪夜蛾1-5龄幼虫和蛹的校正死亡率分别为100%、95.78%、87.15%、64.67%、38.00%和93.93%;草地贪夜蛾1-5龄幼虫和蛹的LC_(50)分别为3.12×10⁴、7.94×104、7.94×10⁴、2.24×104、2.24×10⁶、2.13×106、2.13×10⁷、7.46×107、7.46×10⁸和1.25×108和1.25×10⁵孢子/m L。LT_(50)随孢子浓度的增大而缩短、随幼虫虫龄的增长而延长,当孢子浓度为2×105孢子/m L。LT_(50)随孢子浓度的增大而缩短、随幼虫虫龄的增长而延长,当孢子浓度为2×10⁸孢子/m L时,草地贪夜蛾1-5龄幼虫和蛹的LT_(50)分别为3.93、4.32、5.62、7.18、9.40和4.45 d。卵期为0 h和24 h的草地贪夜蛾卵经莱氏绿僵菌FJMR2浸渍处理后,孵化率分别为84.53%和89.77%,初孵化3 d的幼虫存活率分别为1.81%和3.02%,均显著低于对照组。【结论】莱氏绿僵菌FJMR2对草地贪夜蛾1-4龄幼虫和蛹具有较强侵染致病能力,同时显著降低卵的孵化率和初孵幼虫存活率。     

Cry2Ab蛋白对甜菜夜蛾和斜纹夜蛾低龄幼虫的抗性

【背景】在我国,由于Bt棉的种植,棉铃虫和红铃虫等靶标害虫得到了控制,但棉田其他鳞翅目害虫如甜菜夜蛾和斜纹夜蛾的危害仍较严重。美国商业化种植的双价棉BollgardⅡ所表达的Cry2Ab蛋白不仅对棉铃虫有较好的控制效果,而且对甜菜夜蛾和草地贪夜蛾有较好的控制作用。因此,该双价棉在我国被环境释放前,有必要研究其对棉田其他鳞翅目害虫的影响。【方法】在人工饲料中分别添加质量浓度为1．25、2．5、5．0、10．0和20．0μg·g^-1的Cry2Ab蛋白,采用生物测定的方法,在室内研究了其对甜菜夜蛾和斜纹夜蛾低龄幼虫存活率和体质量抑制率的影响。【结果】随着Cry2Ab蛋白浓度的增大,甜菜夜蛾初孵幼虫和1龄幼虫的存活率逐渐降低,2龄幼虫和3龄幼虫以及斜纹夜蛾各龄期幼虫的存活率在不同浓度处理下与对照差异均不显著。但与对照相比,高浓度处理对这2种害虫各龄期幼虫的体质量均有显著影响。【结论与意义】高浓度Cry2Ab蛋白（10．0和20．0μg·g^-1）对甜菜夜蛾低龄幼虫有较好的控制作用,但对斜纹夜蛾低龄幼虫的控制效果不太理想。这为该双价基因棉花在我国的推广提供了依据。     

根结线虫对斜纹夜蛾幼虫生长及营养利用随龄期变化的研究

【目的】为明确南方根结线虫Meloidogyne incognita侵染对斜纹夜蛾Spodoptera litura幼虫的影响是否因幼虫的龄期而异。【方法】采用被南方根结线虫侵染和未被侵染的乌桕叶片饲喂斜纹夜蛾幼虫,并测定不同龄期幼虫的生长（幼虫体重、发育历期、相对生长率）和营养利用（取食量、近似消化率、食物转化率）情况。【结果】随着幼虫龄期的增加,斜纹夜蛾幼虫的取食量及发育历期呈上升趋势,幼虫体重、相对生长率和食物转化率先上升后下降,而近似消化率则先下降后上升。与饲喂未侵染南方根结线虫的乌桕叶片相比,取食线虫侵染的乌桕叶片的斜纹夜蛾2龄幼虫近似消化率（0.78±0.07）%显著增加了约30%,但斜纹夜蛾的4龄幼虫体重（0.12±0.04）g、相对生长率（0.20±0.06）g·g^(-1)·d(-1)·d^(-1)和食物转化率（0.54±0.18）%分别降低了61%、36%和73%。线虫侵染处理与龄期互作对斜纹夜蛾的发育历期和取食量无显著影响。【结论】根结线虫侵染对斜纹夜蛾幼虫生长及其营养利用的影响因龄期而异,线虫侵染处理虽显著增加了斜纹夜蛾2龄幼虫的近似消化率,但却抑制了其4龄幼虫的生长及其营养利用。     

光周期变化对毛健夜蛾交配和产卵的影响

【目的】毛健夜蛾Brithys crini(Fabricius)可为害葱莲Zephyranthes candida等石蒜科绿化植物,前期研究表明不同光周期对其交配和产卵节律行为及交配率和产卵量均有显著影响。本实验期望探明间歇光照等复杂光照条件对毛健夜蛾交配和产卵的影响。【方法】在光照培养箱条件下(光源为白色日光灯,光照强度约为500 lx),观察了间歇光照长度(20,10,5,1和0 min)、暗期位点(D10:00-22:00,D12:00-24:00,D14:00-02:00和D16:00-04:00)和非24 h光暗循环(4L∶4D,8L∶8D,24L∶24D和48L∶48D)3种光照条件下毛键夜蛾成虫交配及产卵行为。【结果】间歇光照长度为20,10,5,1和0 min时,成虫交配数分别为0,3,10,14和11对,配对数分别为25,29,31,39和26对;间歇光照长度为20和10 min时,交配数与对照组差异显著;10,5,1和0 min时已交配单雌产卵量差异不显著(分别为354.67,322.30,339.57和310.45粒)。暗期位点为D10:00-22:00,D12:00-24:00,D14:00-02:00和D16:00-04:00时,成虫交配数分别为13,18,15和12对,配对数分别为16,19,17和16对,交配数差异不显著;已交配单雌产卵量差异不显著(分别为516.15,527.28,495.53和458.50粒);交配起始时间、交配高峰时间和产卵起始时间、产卵高峰因暗期位点不同而异。非24 h光暗循环(4L∶4D,8L∶8D,24L∶24D和48L∶48D)条件下成虫交配数分别为16,15,14和14对,配对数分别为18,16,14和16对,交配数差异不显著;已交配单雌产卵量差异显著(分别为590.56,559.67,497.21和419.29粒)。【结论】这些结果显示毛健夜蛾交配和产卵行为主要发生在暗期,暗期短于40 min时不能发生交配行为,暗期位点和长度对交配和产卵行为有影响。     

幼虫期短时高温暴露对二点委夜蛾存活和繁殖的影响

【目的】随着全球气候变暖,夏季短时极端高温发生的频率逐渐增加。本研究旨在探明二点委夜蛾Athetis lepigone幼虫期对高温的适应性。【方法】将二点委夜蛾不同日龄(1,6,12和18日龄)幼虫在不同高温(35,38和41℃)条件下暴露不同时间(0.5,1,2,4和6 h)后转移至适温(26℃)继续饲养,观察短时高温对其存活率、发育历期、化蛹率、羽化率、雌虫寿命、单雌产卵量及次代卵孵化率的影响。【结果】幼虫期短时高温暴露的温度和时间对二点委夜蛾幼虫的存活率和发育历期有显著影响,而对化蛹率、成虫羽化率、雌虫寿命、单雌产卵量以及次代卵孵化率影响不显著。随着温度的升高和处理时间的延长,幼虫存活率逐渐降低,发育历期逐渐延长。其中,18日龄的幼虫最为敏感,38℃和41℃暴露6 h后存活率分别为58.3%和17.7%,显著低于对照,发育历期分别为25.5 d和29.2 d,较对照显著延长。【结论】幼虫期经历短时高温暴露仅对幼虫的存活和发育历期有影响,而对后续蛹和成虫的生长发育及成虫繁殖力没有影响。     

中红侧沟茧蜂寄生对粘虫幼虫取食及生长发育的影响

【目的】为明确中红侧沟茧蜂Microplitis mediator(Haliday)寄生对粘虫Mythimna separata(Walker)幼虫取食和发育的影响及评价其田间应用价值。【方法】比较研究了中红侧沟茧蜂寄生不同日龄粘虫对粘虫幼虫取食量和发育的影响。【结果】被寄生的粘虫4、6、8日龄幼虫与未被寄生的同龄期幼虫取食量差异达极显著水平。被寄生的4、6、8日龄粘虫幼虫间的取食量差异不显著。被寄生的幼虫,5 d前体重缓慢上升,之后缓慢下降,所有被寄生的幼虫均不能化蛹。4、6、8日龄粘虫幼虫被寄生后,中红侧沟茧蜂幼虫在其体内的发育历期不同,不同日龄间差异显著,随着日龄的增大显著缩短。【结论】表明该蜂不仅能有效地控制粘虫当代危害,而且在很大程度上能够抑制粘虫的种群数量。     

双七瓢虫对蚜虫捕食作用

【目的】研究双七瓢虫Coccinula quatuordecimpustulata(Linnaeus)对蚜虫的捕食习性,为其保护利用提供依据。【方法】采用13种蚜虫分别饲喂双七瓢虫1~4龄幼虫及成虫,观察记录24 h的捕食数量;选取大豆蚜Aphis glycines Matsumura、豌豆蚜Acyrthosiphon pisum(Harris)和白杨毛蚜Chaitophrus populeti(Panzer)分别对双七瓢虫进行饲养,记录瓢虫发育历期。【结果】双七瓢虫对供试的13种蚜虫捕食数量存在显著差异,其嗜食程度依照对蚜虫的日捕食生物量依次为:大豆蚜、菊小长管蚜Macrosiphoniella sanborni(Gillette)、月季长管蚜Sitobion rosivorum(Zhang)、豌豆蚜、甘蓝蚜Brevicoryne brassicae(Linnaeus)等;用大豆蚜和豌豆蚜饲养,双七瓢虫各虫态发育历期较短,用白杨毛蚜饲养则发育历期较长,3种蚜虫饲养的双七瓢虫,蛹均能正常羽化。【结论】双七瓢虫对供试蚜虫均有捕食行为,但捕食量存在明显差异;不同蚜虫对双七瓢虫的发育历期具有一定影响。     

Enhanced DNA-directed effects of FdUMP[10] compared to 5FU

FdUMP[N] molecules and conjugates are much more effective at inhibiting the proliferation of human tumor cells than is the widely used anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5FU). We have evaluated the inhibition of thymidylate synthase (TS), the extent of DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, and the induction of apoptosis by FdUMP[10] and 5FU in the human colorectal cancer cell line HT29. The magnitude and duration of TS inhibition following exposure of HT29 cells to FdUMP[10] at 1 x 10(-8) M was greater than that which occurred following exposure of these cells to 5FU at 1 x 10(-6) M. FdUMP[10] exposure also resulted in much more extensive DNA damage to HT29 cells than occurred following exposure to 100-fold higher concentrations of 5FU. Although exposure of HT29 cells to both drugs resulted in S-phase arrest, more complete accumulation of cells in S-phase was achieved following FdUMP[10] exposure at much lower drug concentrations. FdUMP[10] was also much more effective at inducing apoptosis in HT29 cells than was 5FU. The results are consistent with FdUMP[10] being much more efficient that 5FU at inducing DNA damage that results in apoptotic cell death in colon cancer cells.     

Diurnal Periodicity of Death-Feigning in Cylas formicarius (Coleoptera: Brentidae)

Diurnal periodicity of death-feigning behavior, or thanatosis, was found in adults of the sweet potato weevil, Cylas formicarius (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Brentidae). The proportion of death-feigned weevils was significantly lower at night than in the daytime only in males. The duration of death-feint was shorter at night than in the daytime in both sexes. The influences of a weevil's behavior prior to being startled (prestimulus behavior) on the proportion of adults feigning death and on the duration of the death-feint were examined. Resting weevils feigned death more frequently and took a longer duration to recover compared to walking ones. The results suggest that, in general, death-feigning is less frequent in active weevils compared to inactive ones. A cost–benefit relationship of death-feigning behavior is discussed in relation to survival and reproduction of C. formicarius.     

Son preference and child replacement in Bangladesh: a new look at the child survival hypothesis

Birth history data from women in the 1975-76 Bangladesh Fertility Survey were used to search for intentions to replace dead children. The median intervals between successive births of orders (i) and (i + 1) were not shorter when some siblings of orders below (i) had died. Nor was the median duration between the death of a child and the first posthumous birth shorter when the dead child was a boy or when it was survived by fewer than two brothers. The median intervals were generally shorter when the mother lived in an urban rather than a rural area but this difference was attributable only to the shorter duration of breast-feeding by urban women. These results disputed the notions that the timing of births was deliberately quicker to replace a dead child, that attempts at replacement were sex-selective, or that child replacement intentions were stronger in urban than in rural populations.     

南亚果实蝇各虫态发育历期及有效积温研究

【背景】南亚果实蝇是世界性的检疫性害虫,在我国多个省市发生为害,对瓜果作物造成了严重的经济损失。【方法】采用人工恒温饲养方法,分别设置10、14、18、22、26、30、34℃7个恒温条件,测定不同温度条件下南亚果实蝇卵、幼虫和蛹的生长发育历期,并推算出相应的发育起点温度和有效积温。【结果】南亚果实蝇卵、幼虫和蛹的发育起点温度分别为7．36、2．43、7．64℃,卵期、幼虫期和蛹期的有效积温分别为20．21、187．69和156．65日度。完成整个世代的发育起点温度是7．64℃,有效积温为364．55日度。当温度达到34℃时,卵的发育历期相对延长,而蛹则不能正常发育,无法羽化为成虫。【结论与意义】在10～30℃,南亚果实蝇的卵、幼虫和蛹的发育历期随温度升高而缩短,各虫态的发育速率和温度呈显著正相关;在26和30℃下,卵、幼虫和蛹的发育历期均显著短于其他各处理温度的发育历期。该试验结果为了解南亚果实蝇的发育温度极限和进一步开展该害虫的适生性分析提供了基础信息,进而为制定该虫的检疫措施提供依据。     

Toxicity of ethanedinitrile to Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) larvae

The mortality of naked Anoplophora glabripennis Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) larvae exposed to ethanedinitrile (cyanogen; C2N2) varied with temperature, time of exposure, and dose of ethanedinitrile. The concentration x time (Ct) product of ethanedinitrile over a range of temperatures (4.4, 10.1, 15.6, and 20.1 degrees C) decreased with increasing temperature, for both 3- and 6-h exposures. The Ct products varied with time of exposure at different temperatures. The variations in mortality at different temperatures are described with a slope ratio (Y = [slope]6h/ [slope]3h). At different temperatures, the concentration of ethanedinitrile and the duration of exposure play different roles in killing A. glabripennis larvae. These results suggest the control of A. glabripennis larvae within wood is achievable.     

Cold tolerance and cold hardening strategy of the Japanese pine sawyer Monochamus alternatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

The Japanese pine sawyer, Monochamus alternatus , is an important pine forest pest and vector transmitting the pine wilt nematode that causes pine wilt disease. Low temperatures in autumn, winter and spring often differentially affect mortality of M. alternatus larvae. In this paper, we mainly compared the differences of mortality and cold hardening of larvae from different seasons, based on supercooling point (SCP) and cumulative probability of individuals freezing (CPIF). The cold hardening of the larvae from autumn, winter and spring seasons were largely different. Correlations between mortality and CPIF of autumn and spring larvae were highest on day 1/4, and gradually decreased with prolonged exposure duration. This beetle's death mainly resulted from freezing in short exposure duration. However, the correlation between mortality and CPIF of winter larvae increased gradually with the prolonged exposure duration. Death did not mainly result from freezing in long exposure duration. Autumn larvae are more susceptible and adaptable than winter and spring larvae. Winter larvae have a slight freeze-tolerance trend. Our research showed that M. alternatus came into complex cold-hardening strategies under natural selection. Freeze avoidance is the primary strategy; with prolonged exposure duration to above SCP or < 0 °C, chill tolerance is more important; this is followed by freeze tolerance during harsh winters.     

Effects of juvenile hormone on some phase characteristics in the common cutworm, Spodoptera litura

Phase characters of the common cutworm, Spodoptera litura, were influenced by different rearing densities from the 4th-larval instar. Primarily the final feeding period of isolated larvae was 1 day longer than that of crowded larvae causing an increase in pupal weight. Applications of juvenile hormone I, II, or methoprene to crowded larvae caused an increased feeding period similar to that of isolated larvae when the juvenile hormones were applied within 1 day after the last-larval ecdysis. Allatectomy of isolated Spodoptera during the moult to the final-larval instar decreased the duration of the final feeding period to that of intact crowded larvae. These results suggested that one of the characters of phase variation, pupal weight, is influenced by the differences in the regulation and activity of the corpora allata during the last-larval instar. Other characteristics of phase variation such as behaviour (feigned death) and colour were not affected by alteration in juvenile hormone levels after the last larva ecdysis.