Entomophaga (1997) 42, 483-491
P. Katsoyannos, D.C. Kontodimas and G.J. Stathas (1997)
Summer diapause and winter quienscence of Coccinella septempunctata (Col. Coccinellidae) in central Greece
Entomophaga 42 (4), 483-491
Abstract: Coccinella septempunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Greece is a multivoltine species. In the lowlands, all instars are abundant in spring becoming scarce from July until the end of the warm period of the year; they are absent in winter. In June, most C. septempunctata adults migrate to mountainous aestivo-hibernation sites. Measurements of the duration of pre-oviposition period in females taken monthly from the summit of Mount Kitheron in central Greece (1993-1994) and transferred to laboratory conditions of high temperature (25°C), long day (16 hrs light/24 hrs), and presence of aphids, indicated that the C. septempunctata females were in diapause during July and August. The diapause gradually terminated from late August to late October and was followed by a period of quiescence extending from November to March of the following year.
During the summer diapause, arrest of ovarian development was indicated by immaturity of the ovaries in all sampled females and the complete absence of vitellogenic resorption signs. Also, adults were found with enlarged fat bodies, and the median duration of preoviposition period in females transferred to the above laboratory conditions was 90 days in early July and 82 days in early August. During the period of winter quiescence, arrest of ovarian development was characterized in most samples by immaturity of the ovaries in all females and, in some samples, by the presence of a few females with signs of vitellogenic resorption. In winter, adults were found containing fat body reserves of different levels, and the median preoviposition period of females transferred to optimal breeding conditions was 29 days in early November and 16 days in mid January.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Dimitris C. Kontodimas
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
population dynamics/epizootiology
general biology - morphology - evolution
Pest and/or beneficial records:
| Beneficial | Pest/Disease/Weed | Crop/Product | Country | Quarant.
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coccinella septempunctata (predator) | Greece |
