Effect of cold acclimation on cold resistance of azuki bean beetle callosobruchus chinensis L

Abstract

Effect of cold acclimation on body weights, survival rates, carbohydrate contents and supercooling points of the azuki bean beetle at different stages were tested under the laboratory conditions. The cold acclimated weevil survived longer period at 0°C than the non-acclimated one reared at 25°C. Especially, the mature larvae containing high amount of carbohydrate markedly prolonged the survival period at 0°C, but in pupae and adults such effects of the cold acclimation were slightly observed. This weevil was a freezing susceptible insect and the supercooling points of larva and pupa were around -22~26°C, showing that it can tolerate cold winter temperature. This experiment shows that the mature larva may be favourable to overwinter. © 1994, JAPANESE SOCIETY OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY AND ZOOLOGY. All rights reserved.