Photoperiodic Control of Development and Reproductive Diapause in the Leaf Beetle Ophraella communa LeSage

The life cycle and reproductive development of the chrysomelid, Ophraella communa, were investigated in the field and laboratory. Females stopped ovarian development and gradually accumulated lipids, mainly triacylglycerols, in mid August through late September, suggesting that the female adults shifted from the non-diapause to diapause phase during this period. Adult diapause was induced at a 14-h or shorter photoperiod. Although mating occurred during early adulthood under any photoperiodic conditions, both sexes at a short day photoperiod built up fat reserves, stopped feeding and tended to hide themselves under objects. These results, together with field surveys, appear to indicate that the beetles mate in the autumn, feed intensively to accumulate fat reserves and then leave the host plant for hibernacula shortly before winter.