The photoperiodic induction of ovarian diapause in the cabbage whitefly, Aleyrodes proletella (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)

Female cabbage whitefly, Aleyrodes proletella L., overwinter in ovarian diapause. A scoring system for ovarian development has proved valuable in following the progress of diapause and has revealed a marked difference between the effects of stationary short-day treatment and one involving a transfer from long-day to short-day photoperiods. The former results in a weak inhibition of ovarian development, whilst the latter completely inhibits pre-emergence oögenesis and greatly retards post-emergence development. Therefore, A. proletella may be regarded as a long-day-short-day species. Peak photoperiodic sensitivity is located in the third instar, although some degree of sensitivity is present for most of larval development. The inductive effect of 10 short-day cycles, at the time of peak sensitivity, is not abolished by subsequent long-day treatment.