Rapid evolution of photoperiodic response in a recently introduced insect Ophraella communa along geographic gradients

The introduced beetle Ophraella communa was first found in 1996 in Japan and has rapidly expanded its distribution to include regions that encompass a wide range of latitude and altitude and are dominated by different host‐plants. In this study, we investigated geographic variation in its photoperiodic response for the induction of reproductive diapause, with which the beetle adjusts its life cycle to local climate and host‐plant phenology. The beetle lines were collected from 18 sites in Japan. The diapause incidence under a photoperiodic condition of 13 h light : 11 h dark (LD 13:11) and the critical day length differed among the beetle lines. Analysis with the generalized linear model showed that latitude, altitude and host‐plant species (Ambrosia artemisiifolia vs. Ambrosia trifida) had significant effects on diapause incidence under LD 13:11. These results suggest that the O. communa populations have rapidly adapted to local environmental conditions after their colonization. However, the photoperiodic response of the O. communa population in Tomakomai, the northernmost part of its distribution range in Japan, deviated significantly from the general trend. We suggest that this deviation is attributed to either: (i) that this beetle has colonized Tomakomai more recently compared to the other sites; or (ii) that the Tomakomai population has adapted to local environments in a different way from other populations.     

Effects of photoperiod and temperature on reproductive diapause in Ophraella communa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a potential biocontrol agent against Ambrosia artemisiifolia

Abstract To investigate the seasonal adaptation strategies of Ophraella communa to new habitats, the effects and regulation mechanisms of photoperiod and temperature on the reproductive diapause in a population collected from Changsha, Hunan were examined. Adults showed obvious reproductive diapause, which was regulated by photoperiod and temperature. At 30°C, there was no adult diapause occurring under either long‐day or short‐day conditions; at 25°C the pre‐oviposition period was short and fecundity was high in adult females under L : D 16 : 8 h, whereas under L : D 12 : 12 h, a few females entered reproductive diapause; at 20°C under short‐day conditions, all female adults entered diapause. The pre‐oviposition period was significantly prolonged when the pupae and adults were transferred from long‐days to short‐days, but the day length influence was not obvious when they were transferred only in the adult stage. However, the fecundity dropped greatly no matter whether the photoperiod shifted to short‐days only in the adult stage or whether the shift occurred in both the pupal and adult stage. The fecundity was extremely low when photoperiod shifted from long‐days to short‐days in both pupal and adult stages. This was an indication that the pupal and adult stages were the photoperiod‐sensitive stage for adult reproductive diapause. This was especially true for the photoperiod in the pupal stage, which has a distinctly significant regulative effect on reproductive diapause. Additionally, this article also addresses the reason for different photoperiodic response patterns in reproductive diapause induction between the Changsha strain and the Tsukuba strain (Japan) of O. communa.     

Photoperiodic induction of diapause in the spider mite Tetranychus urticae: qualitative or quantitative time measurement?

Abstract. Insects and mites may measure photoperiods eitfier by classifying them as long or short relative to a critical value (qualitative time measurement) or by using the absolute value (quantitative time measurement). The spider mite Tetranychus urticae is thought to use a qualitative mechanism of time measurement. In this paper we present the results of experiments with an inbred line of the spider mite (to keep genetic variation in photoperiodic responses small), to test whether quantitative aspects also play a role. Differences in diapause incidence in different long-night photoperiods at different temperatures may be an indication of quantitative responses to photoperiod. The effect of temperature on the photoperiodic response curve was studied at 16^oC, 19^oC and 22^oC. The response curves appeared to be similar at 16^oC and 19^oC, with a critical nightlength between 10 and 11 h. At 22^oC, diapause induction was less than 100% in all long-night regimens and die critical nightlength had shifted to 12 h. Maximum diapause induction (93%) occurred in a light-dark cycle with a 16 h dark phase (LD 8:16 h). Diapause induction was lowest in long-night photoperiods with dark phases of 20 h and longer. The number of light-dark cycles needed for 50% diapause induction at 19^oC varied. between 12.1 and 14.7 for LD 6:18 h, between 10.9 and 12.5 for LD 8:16 h, between 10.6 and 11.6 for LD 10:14 h, and between 10.1 and 10.7 for LD 12:12 h. Independent of die light-dark regimen, diapause induction took place in some individuals after receiving 8 cycles and virtually all individuals entered diapause after 16 cycles. No effect was found of the photoperiodic treatment during prediapause development (LD 6:18 h, LD 8:16 h, LD 10:14 h, LD 12:12 h) on diapause duration. The average diapause duration at LD 10:14 h and 19^oC was 61 days over all four treatments. We explained the results by hypothesising that nightlengths are assessed qualitatively and mat the photoperiodic clock operates more accurately near the critical nightlength.     

Responses to stepwise photoperiodic changes for the larval diapause of the Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella

Abstract The Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella Hübner (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) diapauses as a last‐instar (fifth) larva. At 30 °C, no larvae enter diapause under any photoperiodic conditions; at 25 °C, the photoperiodic response curve is a long‐day type with a critical length of approximately 13 h light; at 20 °C, diapause is induced moderately even under long days (> 13 h). Cumulative effects of short days or long days on diapause induction are determined by alternate, stepwise and gradually changing regimes of photoperiod at 25 °C. When the larvae are repeatedly exposed to LD 16 : 8 h and LD 12 : 12 h photoperiods every other day, the incidence of diapause is 37%. When the larvae are placed under an LD 16 : 8 h photoperiod for 2 days and then under an LD 12 : 12 h photoperiod for 1 day, it is 38 %. Exposure to an LD 16 : 8 h photoperiod for 1 day and then to an LD 12 : 12 h photoperiod for 2 days induces only 15% diapause. This may indicate that the photoperiodic information is not accumulated in a simple fashion despite the generally accepted hypothesis (i.e. photoperiodic counter). Larvae exposed to an LD 16 : 8 h photoperiod for 5 days after oviposition express a very high incidence of diapause even under short days between an LD 2 : 22 h and LD 12 : 12 h photoperiod. After 10 days exposure to an LD 16 : 8 h photoperiod, however, the short day does not induce diapause strongly. On the other hand, an LD 12 : 12 h photoperiod in the early larval life is highly effective in the induction of diapause. A gradual increase or decrease of photoperiod (2 min day^?1) shows that the direction of photoperiodic change does not affect the diapause determination.     

Inheritance of photoperiodic induction of larval diapause in the Asian corn borer Ostrinia furnacalis

The Asian corn borer Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée) enters facultative diapause as fully‐developed larvae in response to short‐day conditions. As a consequence of geographical variation in photoperiodic response, moths from Nanchang (28°46′N, 115°50′E) enter diapause in response to short day‐lengths (D strain), even at the high temperatures whereas moths from Ledong (18°47′N, 108°89′E) exhibit almost no diapause under the same conditions (N strain). In the present study, crosses between the two strains are used to evaluate the inheritance of diapause under different photoperiods at temperatures of 22, 25 and 28 °C. The moths, both reciprocal crosses and backcrosses, show a clear long‐day response, similar to that of the D strain, suggesting that the photoperiodic response controlling diapause in this moth is heritable. However, the critical day‐length for induction of diapause is shorter in hybrids than in the D strain. The N strain also shows a short‐day photoperiodic response at the lower temperature of 22 °C, indicating that the N strain still has the capacity to enter a photoperiodically‐induced diapause, depending on the rearing temperature. The incidence of diapause in all crosses is highest with D strain fathers or grandfathers and lowest with N strain fathers or grandfathers, indicating that the male parent has significantly more influence on the incidence of diapause of subsequent progeny than the female. The results obtained from all crosses under LD 12 : 12 h or LD 13 : 11 h photocycles at 25 °C show that inheritance of diapause in O. furnacalis does not fit an additive hypothesis and that the capacity for diapause is transmitted genetically in the manner of incomplete dominance.     

Geographic variability in diapause response of Japanese Orius species

Interspecific and latitudinal variation in diapause characteristics were examined in 12 strains of Orius species (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) including O. sauteri (Poppius), O. nagaii Yasunaga, O. minutus (L.), O. strigicollis (Poppius), and O. tantillus (Motschulsky) from Japan. A latitudinal cline was found in the photoperiodic response controlling reproductive diapause: the lower the latitude, the lower the diapause incidence and the shorter the critical daylength. To examine the overwintering success, eight strains including four species derived from different latitudes (26–43° N) were reared outdoors in Tsukuba (36° N), central Japan from the autumn of 1998 to the summer of 1999, and their winter survival and spring fecundity were recorded. Most females of the northern strains entered diapause in the autumn when the temperature was still high, and died before winter without oviposition. In the southern strains including a nondiapause Okinawa (26° N) strain of O. strigicollis, females overwintered as well as native strains in a state of quiescence. In all strains, the winter survival was significantly lower in males than in females, and eggs and nymphs failed to overwinter.     

Determination of effective light pulse and classical Bünsow experiment in the larval diapause of the Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella

Plodia interpunctella Hübner (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) comprises a model insect to analyse the photoperiodic time‐measuring system controlling its larval diapause. In the present study, the effective length of light pulse in night interruption experiments is determined at 25 °C. Various lengths of light pulse are tested by inserting them at the midnight of an LD 12 : 12 h photoperiod. When the light pulse is 15 or 30 min, the incidence of diapause is 86%. To inhibit the induction of diapause effectively, a light pulse of 1.75–2 h is needed. The incidence of diapause is 12% under an LD 12 : 5 : 2 : 5 h photoperiod. To determine the precise role of the light pulse, 2‐h light pulses placed at the midnight of an LD 12 : 12 h photoperiod are disrupted systematically by darkness. When a 2‐h light pulse is disrupted by 15 min of darkness, diapause is generally prevented (< 29%) regardless of the temporal position of darkness. Longer disruption by darkness induces diapause moderately (37–67%). A Bünsow experiment is also conducted at 25 and 20 °C, in which the main photophase of 12 h of light is combined with 24–72‐h scotophases scanned by a 2‐h light pulse. The photoperiodic cycle length tested, therefore, varies in the range 36–84 h. In each cycle length, the incidence of diapause fluctuates as the light pulse moves toward dawn. However, no regular and circadian changes in the percentage diapause are observed in relation to diapause determination.     

Inheritance of the photoperiodic response controlling imaginal summer diapause in the cabbage beetle, Colaphellus bowringi

Adults of the cabbage beetle Colaphellus bowringi display a summer diapause in response to the exposure of their larvae to long photoperiods. In the present study, the inheritance of the photoperiodic response controlling summer diapause in C. bowringi by crossing a high diapause strain (D strain) with a laboratory selected nondiapause strain (N strain) was investigated under different photoperiods at 22, 25 and 28 °C. The beetles in both reciprocal crosses and backcrosses showed a clear short-day response for the induction of diapause at all temperatures, similar to that of the D strain, suggesting that photoperiodic response of this beetle is heritable. The diapause incidences in the progeny from all the crosses under LD 15:9 or LD 12:12 at 25 °C suggest that genetic and genetic-environmental interactions are involved in diapause induction. The incidence of diapauses in F₁ progeny was significantly lower than that in the D × D strain but significantly higher than that in the N × N strain, indicating that the diapause capability is inherited in an incomplete dominant manner. The incidence of diapause was greater among the offspring of hybrid females when those females had a D strain mother or grandmother rather than a N strain mother or grandmother, indicating that maternal effects on diapause induction are stronger than paternal effects. The laboratory selected nondiapause strain also showed a short-day photoperiodic response at a low temperature of 22 °C, indicating that the photoperiodic photoreceptor and photoperiodic clock still function in the nondiapause strain.     

Photoperiodic control of diapause in Pseudopidorus fasciata (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae) based on a qualitative time measurement

In the zygaenid moth, Pseudopidorus fasciata, both larval diapause induction and termination are under photoperiodic control. In this study, we investigated whether photoperiodic time measurement (with a 24-h light-dark cycle) in this moth is qualitative or quantitative. Photoperiodic response curves, at 22, 25, and 28 degrees C indicated that the incidence of diapause depended on whether the scotophases exceeded the critical night length (CNL) or not. All scotophases longer than the CNL-induced diapause; all scotophases shorter than the CNL-inhibited diapause. The CNL was 10.5h at 25 and 28 degrees C, and 10h at 22 degrees C. By transferring from various short photoperiods (LD 8:16, LD 9:15, LD 10:14, LD 11:13, LD 12:12, and LD 13:11) to a long photoperiod (LD 16:8) at different times, the number of light-dark cycles required for 50% diapause induction at 25 degrees C was 7.14 at LD 8:16, 7.2 at LD 9:15, 7.19 at LD 10:14, 7.16 at LD 11:13, and 7.13 at LD 12:12, without showing a significant difference between the treatments. Only at LD 13:11 (near the CNL), the number of light-dark cycles was significantly increased to 7.64. The intensity of diapause induced under different short photoperiods (LD 8:16, LD 9:15, LD 10:14, LD 11:13, and LD 12:12) at 25 degrees C was not significantly different with an average diapause duration of 36 days. The duration of diapause induced under LD 13:11 was significantly reduced to 32 days. All results indicate that the night-lengths are measured as either "long" or "short" compared with some critical value and suggest that photoperiodic time measurement for diapause induction in this moth is based on a qualitative principle.     

Photoperiodic and temperature control of nymphal development and induction of reproductive diapause in two predatory Orius bugs: interspecific and geographic differences

Abstract The effects of day‐length and temperature on pre‐adult growth and induction of reproductive diapause are studied in Orius sauteri and Orius minutus (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) from northern (43.0°N, 141.4°E) and central (36.1°N, 140.1°E) Japan. In the north, at 20 °C, pre‐adult growth is slower under an LD 14 : 10 h photoperiod than under shorter or longer photophases. At 24 and 28 °C, the longer photophases result in shorter pre‐adult periods. Acceleration of nymphal growth by short days in autumn appears to be adaptive. In the central region, this response is less pronounced, suggesting that timing of adult emergence is less critical than in the north. Day length also influences the thermal requirements for pre‐adult development. The slope of the regression line representing temperature dependence of pre‐adult development is significantly smaller and the lower development threshold (LDT) is significantly lower under an LD 12 : 12 h photoperiod than under long‐day conditions. The weaker dependence of nymphal growth on temperature and the lower LDT in autumn might be adaptive. In the north, increased temperature shifts the critical day length of diapause induction and suppresses the photoperiodic response in O. sauteri but not in O. minutus. Further south, the incidence of diapause in both species is low even under short‐day conditions but the same interspecific difference is observed (i.e. increase of temperature affects the response in O. sauteri but not in O. minutus). This suggests seasonally earlier diapause induction with weaker temperature dependence in O. minutus than in O. sauteri.     

Geographical variation and inheritance of the photoperiodic response controlling larval diapause in two distinct voltine ecotypes of the Asian cornborer Ostrinia furnacalis

The Asian corn borer Ostrinia furnacalis Guenée (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) enters facultative diapause as fully‐grown larvae in response to short day lengths during autumn. As a result of geographical variations in photoperiodic response, the moths from Nanchang (28.8°N, 115.9°E; NC strain) judge both LD 14 : 10 h and LD 15 : 9 h photocycles as long days and develop directly, whereas moths from Haerbin (44.9°N, 127.2°E; HB strain) judge the same photocycles as short days and enter diapause. Crosses between the two strains are used to evaluate the inheritance of diapause. The critical day lengths for diapause induction in the HB strain are significantly longer than those in the NC strain at all temperatures. The critical day length of F₁ progeny is intermediate between the two strains. However, the critical day length in all crosses is significantly longer with HB strain fathers or grandfathers than with NC strain fathers or grandfathers, indicating that the male parent has significantly more influence on the critical day length of subsequent progeny than the female. The results from all crosses under LD 14 : 10 h or LD 15 : 9 h photocycles at 25 °C show that the inheritance of diapause in O. furnacalis does not fit a purely additive hypothesis and that the capacity for diapause is transmitted genetically in the manner of incomplete dominance. The incidence of diapause for F₁ progeny under an LD 14 : 10 h photocycle is significantly higher than that under an LD 15 : 9 h photocycle, suggesting that the induction of diapause can be influenced by interactions between the F₁ genotype and photoperiod.     

Photoperiodic and temperature effects on the intensity of larval diapause in Sesamia nonagrioides

Abstract. The intensity of larval diapause in Sesamia nonagrioides Lef (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was investigated under laboratory conditions. Newly hatched larvae were exposed to different stationary photoperiods (from LD 7 : 17 h to LD 14 : 10 h), at a constant temperature of 25 °C. Diapause incidence was higher when larvae were exposed to daylengths shorter than the critical value (LD 12 : 12 h), whereas the within‐treatment variation in the larval period appeared to be significantly correlated with the photoperiod applied. The incidences of diapause and the duration of larval development were also measured after exposing larvae to short photoperiods (LD 8 : 16 h, LD 10 : 14 h or LD 12 : 12 h) in combination with various temperatures (20, 22.5 or 25 °C). Although an increase in the incidence of diapause appeared with the lowering of the temperature, no statistical differences were observed in the time needed for pupation within the photoperiodic treatments at the temperatures of 20 and 22.5 °C. Furthermore, when diapausing larvae were transferred to the long photoperiod of LD 16 : 8 h, they immediately proceeded to pupation, regardless of the photoperiod or the temperature to which they had been previously exposed, indicating that there were no differences in the intensity of diapause. Photoperiodic changes from LD 10 : 14 h to LD 12 : 12 h or to LD 14 : 10 h at different larval ages reduced the intensity of diapause with (a) early age of transfer and (b) increase of daylength. By contrast, when larvae were transferred from the long photoperiod of LD 14 : 10 h to shorter, such as LD 10 : 14 h or LD 12 : 12 h, a small increase in the intensity of diapause with the shortening of the daylength was apparent. These results support the hypothesis that insects may compare the duration of the photoperiod and could classify them as either longer or shorter in relation to the critical value.     

Photoperiodic control of larval development in the semivoltine cockroachPeriplaneta japonica (Blattidae: Dictyoptera)

Periplaneta japonica is semivoltine, entering early diapause in any (except the first) larval instar before the last, and late diapause in the last instar. Early diapause was induced under a short day of 13 h or less at 28°C, and under both short and long daylength (12–16 h) at 20°C. The shorter the daylength and the lower the temperature, the younger the instar was entering early diapause. Early diapause was terminated by a long day (16 h) or a high temperature (28°C), after which larvae grew faster in short days than in long days until the last instar, when they again entered diapause, always in short days and frequently in long days. This late diapause was terminated also by an increase in daylength and was always followed by adult emergence. In this case, 13 and 14 h daylengths after exposure to 12 h daylength were as effective as 16 h daylength. Ourdoor samples collected in late autumn, winter and early spring at Hirosaki (40.5°N) comprised two distinct size groups, corresponding with the early and late diapause instars. Based on these results, the seasonal development strategy and intriguing aspects of the photoperiodic response in this cockroach are discussed.     

Life cycle regulation in the heather psyllid Strophingia ericae : responses to temperature and photoperiod

Abstract .The response of overwintering nymphs of Strophingia ericae (Curtis) (Homoptera: Psylloidea) to long and short photoperiods over a range of temperatures was investigated to determine the interaction between these factors and winter development as a regulatory mechanism of their life cycle. Strophingia ericae was successfully reared from egg to adult in a long photoperiod (LD 18:6 h) at 10, 15 and 20°C on its host plant Calluna vulgaris. Although development time was longer at 10 than at 15 or 20°C (≈ 263 days compared with ≈ 155 and ≈ 159 days, respectively), there was no interruption in development at any of these temperatures, indicating that there was no obligatory diapause. However, short photoperiod (LD 12:12 h) inhibited development of overwintering fifth instars collected from the field in early winter. Those collected in September and kept at 15°C developed to adult in ≈ 120 days in a short photoperiod (LD 12:12 h) compared with ≈ 40 days in a long photoperiod (LD 18:6 h). Inhibition became weaker in December and disappeared by January, when fifth instars developed to adult at the same rate in both long and short photoperiods (≈ 30 days). A similar photoperiodic response was observed when the experiment was repeated at 10°C, although development times were consistently longer. The observation that insects collected from the field in early winter were able to resume development immediately on transfer to favourable conditions (15°C and LD 18:6 h photocycle) suggests that there is a photoperiodically induced quiescence (rather than a true diapause) in overwintering S. ericae, which becomes progressively reduced as winter proceeds. It was concluded that the life cycle of the upland and possibly the lowland form of S. ericae is regulated by a winter-active photoperiodic inhibition of development, which effectively synchronizes the emergence of the adult stage with higher spring temperatures and renewed host plant growth.     

Effects of temperature,photoperiod and soil humidity on induction of pseudopupal diapause in the bean blister beetle Epicauta gorhami

Larvae of the bean blister beetle Epicauta gorhami Marseul (Coleoptera: Meloidae) feed on grasshopper eggs in soil and undergo hypermetamorphosis. This beetle undergoes larval diapause in the fifth instar as a pseudopupa, a form characteristic of hypermetamorphosis in meloid beetles. The effects of temperature, photoperiod and soil humidity on larval development of E. gorhami are examined in a population in Miyazaki, Japan, using egg pods of Locusta migratoria L. as food. At lower temperatures (20 and 22.5 °C), all larvae become pseudopupae, regardless of the photoperiod. By contrast, at higher temperatures (27.5 and 30 °C), almost all larvae pupate at the end of the fourth instar, again regardless of the photoperiod. A long‐day photoperiodic response occurs only at an intermediate temperature (25 °C): under an LD 12 : 12 h photocycle, all larvae enter diapause, although the diapause incidence tends to decrease as the day length becomes longer. Pseudopupae are immobile and remain in diapause for ≥120 days when they are kept under the same conditions, except that diapause terminates within a relatively short time at 30 °C. Although lower soil humidity retards post‐feeding development, soil humidity has no effect on the diapause incidence. On the basis of the short developmental period and diapause avoidance under summer conditions, it is suggested that this beetle partially produces two generations a year in southwestern Japan.     

Diapause induction and clock mechanism in the cabbage beetle, Colaphellus bowringi (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Photoperiodic control of diapause induction was investigated in the short-day species, Colaphellus bowringi, which enters summer and winter diapause as adult in the soil. Photoperiodic responses at 25 and 28 degrees C revealed a critical night length between 10 and 12 h; night lengths > or =12 h prevented diapause, whereas night lengths <12 h induced summer diapause in different degree. Experiments using non-24-h light-dark cycles showed that the duration of scotophase played an essential role in the determination of diapause. Night-interruption experiments with T=24 h showed that diapause was effectively induced by a 2-h light pulse in most scotophases; whereas day-interruption experiments by a 2-h dark break had a little effect on the incidence of diapause. The experiments of alternating short-night cycles (LD 16:8) and long-night cycles (LD 12:12) during the sensitive larval period showed that the information of short nights as well as long nights could be accumulated. Nanda-Hamner experiments showed three declining peaks of diapause at 24 h circadian intervals. Bünsow experiments showed two very weak peaks for diapause induction, one being 8 h after lights-off, and another 8 h before lights-on, but it did not show peaks of diapause at a 24 h interval. These results suggest that the circadian oscillatory system constitutes a part of the photoperiodic clock of this beetle but plays a limited role in its photoperiodic time measurement.     

Adaptive latitudinal cline of photoperiodic diapause induction in the parasitoid Nasonia vitripennis in Europe

Living in seasonally changing environments requires adaptation to seasonal cycles. Many insects use the change in day length as a reliable cue for upcoming winter and respond to shortened photoperiod through diapause. In this study, we report the clinal variation in photoperiodic diapause induction in populations of the parasitoid wasp Nasonia vitripennis collected along a latitudinal gradient in Europe. In this species, diapause occurs in the larval stage and is maternally induced. Adult Nasonia females were exposed to different photoperiodic cycles and lifetime production of diapausing offspring was scored. Females switched to the production of diapausing offspring after exposure to a threshold number of photoperiodic cycles. A latitudinal cline was found in the proportion of diapausing offspring, the switch point for diapause induction measured as the maternal age at which the female starts to produce diapausing larvae, and the critical photoperiod for diapause induction. Populations at northern latitudes show an earlier switch point, higher proportions of diapausing individuals and longer critical photoperiods. Since the photoperiodic response was measured under the same laboratory conditions, the observed differences between populations most likely reflect genetic differences in sensitivity to photoperiodic cues, resulting from local adaptation to environmental cycles. The observed variability in diapause response combined with the availability of genomic tools for N. vitripennis represent a good opportunity to further investigate the genetic basis of this adaptive trait.     

Photoperiodism of diapause induction in Thyrassia penangae (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae)

Thyrassia penangae enters winter diapause as a prepupa in a cocoon. Photoperiodism of diapause induction was systematically investigated in this moth. The photoperiodic response curves under 24-h light-dark cycles showed that this insect is a typical long-day species. The critical daylength was 13 h 30 min at 25 °C, 13 h at 30 °C and 12 h 20 min at 28 °C. Transferring experiments from a short day (LD 12:12) to a long day (LD 15:9) or vice versa indicated that photoperiodic sensitivity mainly occurs during the larval period. In experiments using non-24-h light-dark cycles, when the length of photophase exceeded the critical daylength (13.5 h), was diapause inhibited effectively, even when the length of scotophase exceeded the critical nightlength (10.5 h). Only when a long scotophase was combined with a short photophase, diapause was induced effectively. This result suggests that daylength measurement is more important than nightlength measurement in T. penangae. Night interruption experiments under 24-h light-dark cycles exhibited two points of apparent light sensitivity, but the photosensitive position was highly influenced by temperature and the length of scotophase. Nanda-Hamner experiments failed to reveal the involvement of a circadian system in this photoperiodic time measurement. All light-dark cycles from LD 12:12 to LD 12:72 resulted in a short day response, and all cycles from LD 14:4 to LD 14:72 resulted in a long day response, suggesting that photoperiodic time measurement in this moth is performed by a day-interval timer or an hourglass-like clock.     

Effects of thermoperiods on diapause induction in the cabbage beetle, Colaphellus bowringi (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Abstract. The effects of thermoperiods on diapause induction in continuous darkness or under a 12 : 12 h LD photoperiod were investigated in the cabbage beetle, Colaphellus bowringi Baly, a typical short‐day species. The diapause response curves both at different constant temperatures and at the thermocycle of format CT x: (24 ? x) h (16 : 28 °C) under continuously dark rearing conditions showed that the incidence of diapause depended mainly on whether or not the mean temperature was ≤20 °C or >20 °C. If the mean temperature was ≤20 °C, all individuals entered diapause; if >20 °C, the incidence of diapause declined gradually with increasing mean temperatures. The thermocycle (CT 12 : 12 h) with a series of different cryophases (8–22 °C) and thermophases (24–32 °C) under continuous darkness demonstrated a cryophase response threshold temperature of approximately 19 °C and a thermophase response threshold temperature of approximately 31 °C. Thermoperiodic amplitude (temperature difference between cryophase and thermophase) was shown to have a significant influence on diapause induction at the mean temperatures of 22, 23 and 24 °C, but not at ≥25 °C. Thermoperiodic responses under LD 12 : 12 h clearly showed that the incidence of diapause was influenced strongly by the photophase temperature. The thermoperiod under LD 12 : 12 h induced a much lower incidence of diapause than the thermoperiod with the same temperature in continuous darkness. The ecological significance of thermoperiodic induction of diapause in this species is discussed.     

A comparison of photoperiodic control of diapause between aestivation and hibernation in the cabbage butterfly Pieris melete

In the cabbage butterfly, Pieris melete, summer and winter diapause are induced principally by long and short daylengths, respectively; the intermediate daylengths (12-13 h) permit pupae to develop without diapause. In this study, photoperiodic control of summer and winter diapause was systematically investigated in this butterfly by examining the photoperiodic response, the number of days required to induce 50% summer and winter diapause and the duration of diapausing pupae induced under different photoperiods. Photoperiodic response curves at 18 and 20 degrees C showed that all pupae entered winter diapause at short daylengths (8-11 h), the incidence of diapause dropped to 82.3-85.5% at 22 degrees C without showing a significant difference between short daylengths, whereas the incidence of summer diapause induced by different long daylengths (14-18 h) was varied and was obviously affected by temperature. By transferring from various short daylengths (LD 8:16, LD 9:15, LD 10:14 and LD 11:13) to an intermediate daylength (LD 12.5:11.5) at different times after hatching, the number of cycles required to induce 50% winter diapause (7.28 at LD 8:16, 7.16 at LD 9:15, 7.60 at LD 10:14 and 6.94 at LD 11:13) showed no significant difference, whereas by transferring from various long daylengths (LD 14:10, LD 15:9, LD 16:8 and LD 17:7) to an intermediate daylength (LD 12.5:11.5) at different times, the number of cycles required to induce 50% summer diapause (5.95 at LD 14:10, 8.02 at LD 15:9, 6.80 at LD 16:8, 7.64 at LD 17:7) were significantly different. The intensity of winter diapause induced under different short daylengths (LD 8:16, LD 9:15, LD 10:14 and LD 11:13) was not significantly different with an average diapause duration of 87 days at a constant temperature of 20 degrees C and 92 days at a mean daily temperature of 19.0 degrees C, whereas the intensity of summer diapause induced under different long daylengths (LD 14:10, LD 15:9, LD 16:8 and LD 17:7) was significantly different (the diapause duration ranged from 75 to 86 days at a constant temperature of 20 degrees C and from 76 to 88 days at a mean daily temperature of 19.0 degrees C). All results suggested that photoperiodic control of diapause induction and termination is significantly different between aestivation and hibernation.