Original paper

Preadult Changes of Ecdysteroid and Juvenile Hormone Titers in Relation to Diapause and Pigmental Variations in two Lepidopteran Species, Cerura vinula and Araschnia levana (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae / Nymphalidae)

Koch, Paul Bernhardt

Entomologia Generalis Volume 20 Number 3 (1996), p. 143 - 155

45 references

published: Jan 1, 1996

DOI: 10.1127/entom.gen/20/1996/143

BibTeX file

ArtNo. ESP146002003002, Price: 14.30 €

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Abstract

Ecdysteroid and juvenile hormone titers were determined through preadult development and set in relation to changes and variations in pigmentation in 2 lepidopteran species: Cerura vinula (Linnaeus 1758) a species with different color patterns in successive larval instars and Araschnia levana (Linnaeus 1758) a species with facultative pupal diapause and adult seasonal diphenism of wing coloration. In C vinula larvae, the black melanin in the color pattern is stepwise reduced at successive molts. The last instar larva [Ls] turnes dark red at the wandering stage. Peaks in hemolymph ecdysteroids [ES] correspond to larval molts. The reddening prior to pupation corresponds to a small ES peak followed by the large pupation peak. - The juvenile hormone [JH] titer decreases with every larval instar and altogether becomes lower in every successive instar. At the middle of the Ls stage, it decreases to an undetectable level and increases again immediately before pupation. The results are in accordance with the assumption that morphological differences between successive larval instars can be controlled by a stepwise decrease of the JH level, while the reddening at the wandering stage is caused by a small ES peak during entire absence of JH. In A levana, short-day larvae develop to diapause pupae and the red spring-morph adults.

Keywords

Ecdysteroids • juvenile hormone-titer • diapause • color pattern • color change • Cerura vinula Araschnia levana