Factors influencing the duration and termination of diapause in the Indian‐meal moth, Plodia interpunctella

The influence of environmental factors on the duration of diapause in Plodia interpunctella larvae reared in short photoperiods at 20 or 25° C was examined, Diapause terminated most rapidly in long photoperiods at high temperatures. Pupation was more delayed, and mortality was higher, in darkness than in the presence of light. At 20° C, LD 16: 8 hastened diapause termination only slightly in unchilled samples. Chilling for 10 weeks at 10° C greatly reduced the duration of diapause at 20 or 25° C in constant darkness, and rendered LD 16:8 effective in terminating diapause at 20° C. In addition, the quite short duration of diapause under LD 16:8 at 25° C was further shortened by holding for 6–10 weeks at 10° C or below, or by holding in an outbuilding during winter. Holding diapausing larvae at 15 or 20° C proved less effective. Temperature rises from 20 to 25 or 30° C proved effective in terminating diapause. In one stock, the temperature at which diapause was induced influenced its subsequent duration. Lighting conditions during induction had less influence on duration than had temperature, and no difference occurred between pupation times of larvae reared at different population densities, Under all conditions tested, diapause lasted longer in a recently collected field stock than in a laboratory stock.