Effects of Photoperiod and Parental Age on the Maternal Induction of Larval Diapause in the Blowfly, Calliphora vicina ROBINEAU-DESVOIDY (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Abstract

The blowfly, Calliphora vicina entered larval diapause after cessation of feeding in the third instar under the influence of photoperiodic conditions and age of the maternal generation. Adults reared under short-day conditions (12L-12D) produced diapausedestined progeny, whereas those reared under long-day conditions (18L-6D) produced nondiapause-destined progeny at 20°C. After transfer from long-day to short-day conditions, the adults began to produce diapause-destined progeny. Even under constant long-day conditions, aged adults produced some diapause-destined progeny. Furthermore, the variation in the duration of larval development in diapause larvae was larger when the parents were old. © 1995, JAPANESE SOCIETY OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY AND ZOOLOGY. All rights reserved.