Role of photoperiod and temperature in seasonal morph determination of the butterfly Eurema hecabe

ABSTRACT. Environmental cues affecting seasonal morph determination of the pierid butterfly Eurema hecabe L. were examined in laboratory experiments and in the field. A sexual difference exists in the photoperiodic response for seasonal morph determination: in short days at 25C the proportion of the autumn morph is higher in females than in males, and as the rearing temperature is decreased the proportion of autumn morphs increases in both sexes. A 5C drop in temperature during the final larval stadium induces 100% autumn morph production in short-day animals. This increase in autumn morph production induced by temperature decrease explains the seasonal morph change of this butterfly occurring in early autumn in the field. The role of this sex-linked photoperiodic response is discussed as a seasonal strategy of reproduction.