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COLD TOLERANCE IN THE COLORADO POTATO BEETLE, LEPTINOTARSA DECEMLINEATA (SAY) (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Gilles Boiteau
Affiliation:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre, PO Box 20280, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada E3B 4Z7
Warren Coleman
Affiliation:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre, PO Box 20280, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada E3B 4Z7

Abstract

The seasonal change in the level of cold tolerance in a field population of Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), is described for a northern location. Survival of overwintering adult beetles is highest from September through January. After that it falls to a lower level that is maintained until beetle emergence in May or June. The seasonal change in the level of cold tolerance is parallel to the change in the intensity of diapause but not to the change in the low temperature exotherm. The value of the low temperature exotherm is variable but averages −8.8°C for active beetles on plants and −11.7°C for soil-collected overwintering beetles in their deep diapause phase. Experimental results suggest that reduction of the gut content and increase in the amount of body fat in diapausing beetles is sufficient to lower the low temperature exotherm by a few degrees. The diapausing state itself, without cold acclimation, is sufficient to increase cold tolerance. However, results suggest that it is not the level of cold tolerance of the Colorado potato beetle provided by the diapausing process that has allowed this species to extend its range northward into New Brunswick but its accompanying burrowing behaviour.

Résumé

On trouvera ici la description de la variation saisonnière de la tolérance au froid chez une population naturelle de Doryphores de la pomme de terre, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), d’une région nordique. La survie des coléoptères adultes est élevée, surtout de septembre à janvier, puis elle baisse jusqu’à un degré moins élevé qui se maintient jusqu’à l’émergence en mai ou juin. La variation saisonnière du degré de tolérance au froid est parallèle au changement dans l’intensité de la diapause, mais ne suit pas la variation de l’exotherme inférieur. La valeur de cet exotherme est variable, mais a été estimée à −8,8°C en moyenne chez des coléoptères actifs sur les plantes, et à −11,7°C en moyenne chez des coléoptères recueillis dans le sol en hiver, au cours de leur phase de diapause profonde. Les résultats des expériences démontrent que la réduction du bol alimentaire et l’augmentation des réserves de graisse chez les coléoptères en diapause suffisent à réduire l’exotherme inférieur de quelques degrés. L’état de diapause en lui-même, sans acclimatation au froid, est suffisant pour augmenter la tolérance au froid. Cependant, nos résultats indiquent que ce n’est pas la forte tolérance au froid entraînée par le processus de diapause qui a permis à l’espèce de repousser les limites de sa répartition vers le nord du Nouveau-Brunswick, mais le comportement fouisseur qui accompagne la diapause.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1996

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