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Variability in the colour of lepidopteran larvae has been recorded in a broadrange of species, yet little is known of its evolutionary significance, orwhether it has a genetic basis. I assess the role of genes and environment indetermining the degree of larval melanization in the moth, Mamestra brassicae,and examine functional aspects of larval pigmentation. In particular, whethermelanization is of importance in thermoregulation, and whether larvae differingin melanization exhibit concurrent differences in size, rate of development, andfecundity. In the fourth and fifth instars, larval M. brassicae exhibit acontinuous range of colour from pale green to black: a classification scheme isdescribed to quantify this variation. Heritability (h2) was measured usingregression of brood means against mid-parent values for 36 broods (2339offspring), and was estimated to be 0.237 0.07 (SD) for fourth instar larvae and0.421 0.10 (SD) for fifth instar larvae. However, environmental factors mediateddevelopment of larval colour: larvae were darker when reared at low temperature(12°C) compared to high (24°C). Direct measurement of larval temperatures usingthermocouples inserted into the alimentary canal indicated that dark larvaeabsorbed more radiant heat, and thus under illumination consistently maintaineda higher body temperature than pale larvae. Hence dark larvae are presumed to beat a selective advantage at low ambient temperatures, and increased melanizationof larvae reared at low temperatures may be adaptive. I suggest that variationwithin natural populations may be maintained by fluctuating weather conditions.Dark larvae were found to be smaller, but developed more quickly than lightlarvae so that weight at pupation, time to pupation, and fecundity (measured bythe number of fertile eggs produced) did not differ according to colour. Furtherstudies are suggested to examine the influence of larval colour onthermoregulation, growth rates and predation in the fie

Determination of larval melanization in the moth, Mamestra brassicae, and the role of melanin in thermoregulation