PREVENTING AND TERMINATING PUPAL DIAPAUSE INATHRYCIA CINEREA(DIPTERA: TACHINIDAE)

Abstract

AbstractPupal diapause inAthrycia cinerea(Coq.), a larval parasite of bertha armyworm,Mamestra configurataWalk., was usually prevented if the parasite larvae were reared at 25°C, but not if they were reared at 20°C. Mature larvae of the parasite were more sensitive than younger larvae to this temperature effect. Diapause incidence inA.cinereaat 20°C was not reduced by using only young parent females for oviposition; by rearing the parent females at a high temperature (25°C) and long day (16 h) prior to and during oviposition; by using host larvae that had been light-programmed for non-diapause; or by increasing the photoperiod, to which the parasite larvae were exposed, from 12 to 16 h. Termination of pupal diapause was accelerated by low temperature; at least 24 weeks at 2 °C were required to synchronize adult emergence.