Abstract: Photoperiod response of diapause induction and the photo-sensitive stage in Chouioia cunea Yang were investigated. The photoperiodic response curves under 24 h light-dark cycles showed that the species is a typical long-day species, entering diapause as mature larvae. The critical photoperiod for diapause induction was estimated to be between 13L∶11D and 14L∶10D at 18℃, and between 12L∶12D and 13L∶11D at 21℃ and 24℃. The late instar larvae were most sensitive to photoperiod. However, the short day light received at all larval stages was also important for the increase of their diapause rate. The developmental duration for post-diapause development of C. cunea was determined by exposing diapause larvae to different constant temperatures (18, 21, 24 and 30℃). The results showed that the threshold temperature and effective accumulative temperature for post-diapause development of mature larvae were 14.60±0.31℃ and 209.38±8.72 day-degrees, respectively. These results may provide a theoretical basis for long-term preservation, commercial production and release time of C. cunea.

Key words: Chouioia cunea, diapause, critical photoperiod, sensitive stage, post-diapause development