PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES AND COLD HARDINESS OF SPRUCE BUDWORM LARVAE,CHORISTONEURA FUMIFERANA(CLEM.), DURING PRE-DIAPAUSE AND DIAPAUSE DEVELOPMENT UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS

Abstract

AbstractSupercooling point, biochemical metabolites, and water content of the larvae ofChoristoneura fumiferana(Clem.) were measured during pre-diapause and diapause development under laboratory conditions. Supercooling point dropped significantly, from a mean value of −22.9 °C to −31.7 °C during the 3-week pre-diapause development. Supercooling point continued to decline down to −34.5 °C after the beginning of diapause. Water content also dropped significantly during pre-diapause development and was maintained at a low level during diapause. Significant amounts of glycerol were detected only when the larvae were 5 weeks into diapause and the glycerol level continued to increase until week 20 when it was almost 10 times its original level. Glycogen was nearly depleted after diapause, but lipid remained at a relatively high level. Little change in glucose and trehalose content was found during diapause in spite of their initial rise before diapause. Larvae could survive low temperatures close to their supercooling point without freezing but none survived freezing, suggesting that this species is freeze-intolerant. First-instar larvae were found to excrete green material out of their body within 5 days after emergence. Removal of this material from the insect body coincided with a significant drop in supercooling point, indicating that a potential nucleating factor might be involved in the green material. The implications of these results for the overwintering strategy ofC.fumiferanaare discussed.