THE DIAPAUSE PORTION OF THE LARVAL PERIOD OF DIAPREPES ABBREVIATUS L.

Abstract

By using an open-top, porous bottomed type of individual container for grubs of Diaprepes abbreviatus L. during their resting or "active diapause" period previous to pupation, numerous individuals have been successfully reared to adult. In most cases observed, pupation occurs in the spring, regardless of when the grub hatched. Few of the many egg-clusters laid in the late spring produce grubs, because of heavy parasitization by Tetrastichus haitiensis Gahan, but during the remainder of the year this parasite is scarce. Diaprepes egg-clusters have been found in every month of the year; the grubs from some of these pupating in the next spring and completing their development in little more than six months, others have an exceptionally long "active diapause" terminated by pupation in the second spring, resulting in a life-cycle of several months more than one year.