Effects of photoperiod and temperature on seasonal morph development and diapause egg oviposition in a bivoltine race (Daizo) of the silkmoth, Bombyx mori L.

Abstract

A bivoltine race (Daizo) of the silkmoth, Bombyx mori, has two types of adults which are classified on the basis of the number of dark-brown and brown scales distributed along the outer lines of the anterior wings. Development of these two types of adults is determined by photoperiod and temperature experienced during the embryonic and larval stages. The two types of adults are thought to be seasonal (summer and autumn) morphs. All adults developed under short days at low temperature (15°C and 23°) were classified as summer morphs and oviposited only nondiapause eggs (ND-eggs), and those that developed under long days at high temperature (28°C and 25°C) were autumn morphs ovipositing only diapause eggs (D-eggs), only ND-eggs or a mixture of D- and ND-eggs. Larval exposure to long days at 25°C shifted the wing pattern towards the autumn morphs and decreased the incidence of female adults ovipositing only D-eggs. Larval exposure to long days elicits an opposite effect on D-egg oviposition to that observed when long days are received only during the embryonic stage.