Research Methods in Life Sciences Commons^™

Factors Relating To Diapause In The Alfalfa Weevil Parasite Bathyplectes Curculionis (Thomson), David S. Parrish

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Biological and ecological factors regulating diapause in the ichneumonid parasite of the alfalfa weevil, Bathyplectes curculionis (Thomson), were studied. In most experiments, both parasites and weevil larvae were maintained in the environmental conditions under study from the emergence of the adult parasite until the evaluation of results.

The factors either preventing or inducing diapause in B. curculionis were found to be an interaction of environmental factors. A long scotophase with cool temperatures prevented diapause. The percentage of nondiapausing parasites increased as the scotophase was increased to 15 hours. Over 15 hours of scotophase, fewer nondiapausing parasites were produced. The optimum …