Seasonal wing dimorphism and life cycle of the mole cricket Gryllotalpa orientalis (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae)

Abstract

Control of seasonal wing dimorphism in the oriental mole cricket Gryllotalpa orientalis Brumeister (1839) from a wetland habitat in western Japan is described. The long-winged (LW) morph appeared from mid-June to September, whereas the short-winged (SW) morph appeared from September to mid-June. Individuals overwintered in either the adult or juvenile stage. The seasonal shift in wing morphology was linked to the overwintering stage. Individuals that hatched in May became SW adults in September-October and then overwintered, whereas those that hatched in June and July overwintered as juveniles and became LW adults in June of the following year. The life cycle of both morphs was univoltine. Reproductive benefits and constraints of each wing morph of G. orientalis are compared.