Reversal of embryonic diapause in the Australian plague locust, Chortoicetes terminifera (Walker), by temperatures above the development threshold

Diapause was induced in embryos of Chortoicetes terminifera (Walker) by transferring adults from an L:D 15:9 regime to an L:D 12.5:11.5 regime. When incubated at 20°C all eggs in all pods entered and remained in diapause but when incubated at 26, 32 and 38°C a proportion of eggs in some pods did not. Pods incubated at 32°C for up to 6 days, when diapause intervenes and then transferred to 20°C gave the same result as pods incubated at 20°C throughout development. All eggs entered and remained in diapause. If the period at 32°C was extended to 8 days, the proportion remaining in diapause was not significantly different from that found when pods were incubated at 32°C throughout development. In eggs which broke diapause at 32°C there was a pause or slowing down of development for about 2 or 3 days around the stage at which diapause intervenes.