Photoperiod in relation to diapause inLygus hesperusKnight

Abstract

Lygus hesperus Knight, a common polyphagous insect pest of certain widely grown California crops, undergoes a seasonal facultative diapause. Experiments described here were conducted upon both field-collected and laboratory-raised L. hesperus populations, and have demonstrated the critical effects of photoperiod and temperature upon the inception, termination, nullification, and intensity of diapause in this species.