Diapause and Tolerance to Extreme Temperatures in Tropical, Subtropical and Temperate Populations of the Ladybird Beetle Epilachna vigin tioctopunctata

Abstract

Diapause and tolerance to extreme temperatures were compared among tropical, subtropical and temperate populations of Epilachna vigintioctopunctata to understand how they adapt to environmental conditions. The tropical population had no diapause, while the temperate population entered reproductive diapause at a short daylength. Females of the tropical population matured fastest while those of the temperate population matured slowest. The tropical population was the least tolerant to both heat and cold, while the temperate population was the most tolerant to these stresses.