Abstract
A study was made of cold acclimation in the life stages of the black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel), and the role of acclimation and nondiapause dormancy in the overwintering strategy of the species. The cutworm was shown to be freeze-susceptible and capable of only very limited acclimation. Eggs and older larvae (fourth to sixth instars) could survive short periods of subfreezing temperatures, but young larvae, pupae, and adults showed no significant cold hardiness. Supercooling occurred to a minor degree but did not appear to play a role in survival under subfreezing temperatures. The possible roles of egg and larval cold hardiness and of the nondiapause dormancy of mature larvae in the overwintering capabilities of the black cutworm are discussed.
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