Insect diapause of very variable duration: the case of the palm nut bruchid <i>Pachymerus nucleorum</i> (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

SummaryData are provided here showing that larval diapause in the tropical palm nut bruchid <i>Pachymerus nucleorum</i> (Fabricius) can extend up to a maximum of about five years, although for most individuals the duration ranges from 15 to 48 months. The data were obtained for insects originating from one source only that were held under one set of temperature and photoperiod conditions only so the wide variation in duration is attributed to maternal control. Staggering the adult emergence times of a parent’s progeny can be regarded as an evolutionary strategy that increases the chance that some at least encounter favourable biotic or abiotic conditions. It is believed that extended diapause may be quite widespread amongst insects, including those of temperate climates.本数据集显示，热带棕榈豆象*Pachymerus nucleorum*（Fabricius）的幼虫滞育（larval diapause）最长可延续约5年，多数个体的滞育时长介于15至48个月之间。本研究所用昆虫仅来自单一虫源，且均在同一温度与光周期（photoperiod）条件下饲养，因此滞育时长的显著差异可归因于母本调控（maternal control）。使亲代子代的成虫羽化时间呈梯度分布，可被视为一种进化策略，能够提升至少部分个体遭遇适宜生物或非生物环境的概率。现有研究认为，延长型滞育在昆虫类群中或许相当普遍，涵盖温带气候下的昆虫类群。