Environmental Control of Larval Diapause in the Blow Fly, Lucilia sericata

Lucilia sericata shows a facultative diapause in the third, and final larval, instar after the cessation of feeding. The effects of photoperiod and temperature on the induction and duration of diapause were examined in parental (G0) and current (G1) generations. Insects of the G0 generation were reared under four combinations of conditions, involving two photoperiods, LD 16:8 and LD 12:12, and two temperatures, 25 and 20 °C. The G1 generation, present in the eggs laid by these insects, were transferred to 10 combinations of conditions, involving the above two photoperiods and five temperatures, 25, 20, 17.5, 15 and 12.5 °C. In the G1 generation, the time from hatching to cessation of feeding was significantly affected by temperature only, whereas the induction of diapause was influenced by both photoperiod and temperature experienced by the G0 as well as the G1 generation. Short-day and low-temperature conditions in the G0 and in the G1 generation had diapause-inducing effects. In this species, it is likely that, for purposes of acquiring reliable seasonal information, induction of diapause is sensitive to environmental factors both in the G0 and G1 generations. The function of high-intensity diapause, induced by short-day conditions and high temperature in the parental generation, appeared to be the prevention of accidental pupariation in warm autumn weather.