Reproductive diapause in <i>Nysius huttoni</i> White (Heteroptera Lygaeidae)

Abstract

The induction of reproductive diapause of Nysius huttoni was studied in the laboratory at 20 1C and 60 10 RH under a series of photoperiod regimes 168 h 1410 h 1212 h and 1014 h lightdark Reproductive diapause was considered to have occurred if females failed to lay eggs for 50 days after emergence The sensitivity of different life stages to diapauseinducing photoperiods varied When newly emerged females whose immature stages had been reared at 168 h were transferred to 1014 h and 1212 h 467 and 793 of them entered reproductive diapause respectively However when fifth instar nymphs were transferred from 168 h to 1014 h and 1212 h 100 of adult females entered reproductive diapause If the entire life cycle was maintained at 1014 h and 1212 h 667 and 400 of females entered reproductive diapause respectively The critical photoperiod for reproductive diapause was estimated to lie between 1311 h and 135105 h