Photoperiodic induction of adult reproductive diapause in the ladybird beetle Cycloneda munda (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Abstract

The developmental response and the induction and duration of adult hibernal diapause in a North American population of Cycloneda munda (Say) (collected at 38°N, 84.5°W) was determined by rearing individuals at four photoperiods (L:D 16:8, 14:10, 12:12, and 10:14) at 22°C. Preimaginal development of C. munda individuals was slower at L:D 10:14 than at three longer photoperiods. No C. munda females reared at L:D 16:8 entered diapause, 5% of females at L:D 14:10 were in diapause, whereas shorter photoperiods (L:D 12:12 and 10:14) induced diapause in 84% and 100% of females. Cycloneda munda females demonstrated a long-day response to photoperiod, similar to that observed in several other species of predaceous Coccinellidae that diapause as adults.

Keywords

• diapause induction
• adult diapause
• phenology
• biological control