Distinct Physiological Mechanisms Induce Latitudinal and Sexual Differences in the Photoperiodic Induction of Diapause in a Fly

Abstract

Many temperate insects enter diapause (dormancy) for overwintering in response to short days (long nights). A latitudinal cline in the critical day lengths for the photoperiodic induction of diapause has been reported in various insect species. However, the physiological mechanisms underlying this cline have remained elusive. We approached this issue in the flesh fly Sarcophaga similis, in which the photoperiodic time measurement system meets the “external coincidence model.” In this model, measuring day lengths depends on whether the photoinducible phase (φi), determined by a circadian clock, is exposed to light or not. First, we detected a clear latitudinal cline in the critical day lengths of flies collected from 4 localities at different latitudes. The phase positions of the φi, which can be verified by night interruption photoperiods, also showed a clear latitudinal cline. This result supports the hypothesis that the latitudinal cline in the critical day length is produced by the difference in the phase positions of the φi among different strains. A sexual difference in the critical day length for photoperiodic induction has also been detected in various species. In this study, a sexual difference in the critical day length was observed in the southern strains but there was no sexual difference in the phase positions of the φi. This result indicates that both sexes measure photoperiods in the same manner. Males are less sensitive than females to the light pulse given at the φi, suggesting a quantitative difference in the photoperiodic time measurement and counter systems. This study clearly reveals that distinct mechanisms induce latitudinal and sexual differences in the critical day length for the photoperiodic induction of diapause in a fly.