Strategy of freeze tolerance in adult of sunn pest bug (Eurygaster integriceps Put.)

To investigate cold hardiness of Eurygaster integriceps Put, super cooling points of whole bodies during December to March 2006-2007 were measured on samples collected from altitude of Ghara-aghaj varamin-Iran. In addition, the lower lethal temperature (LLT) was determined for adult insect. The super cooling points were observed about -5 in cold months. Since the minimum temperature under natural condition is reached to-7 degreesC or lower in January and LLT99 (-21.65 degrees C), --11 degreesC lower than their minimum SCP (-10.5 degrees C), therefore I concluded that adult insects are freeze tolerant. Furthermore, super cooling points of different sex, weight and attitude were not significantly different. Freeze tolerance in these insects may be a strategy to provide protection from long-term exposures to ice crystals in microhabitat in alititude.