Abstract
In Antheraea yamamai, the duration from pupation to moth emergence was examined under various environmental conditions. The pupae, when they were placed under natural photoperiod of about 14.5L to 12L at a room temperature of about 31°C to 22°C, required about 52 days (min. 27 days; max. 66 days) to emergence. In contrst to this, the pupal duration was about 32 day (min. 30 days; max. 36 days) when kept in a condition of 12L-12D photoperiod and temperature of 20°C, and about 29 days (min. 24 days; max. 34 days)when kept in a condition of 12L-12D photoperiod and temperature of 25°C. On the other hand, when kept in 24L photoperiod and 26°C the pupal duration was about 62 days (min.25 days; max. 107 days). This shortening of the duration till emergence must be due to a quick termination of summer diapause, but not to a accelerated development in post-diapause period. Evidence supporting this idea was obtained by observing the signal of adult development occurring inside the pupal cuticle from the outside.
