Termination of Pupal Diapause in the Cinnabar Moth and the Reproductive Capacity of the Resulting Females

Abstract

MANY thousands of pupæ of the cinnabar moth, Tyria jacobaeae L., from southern England, and a smaller consignment from central Italy, were introduced into Australia for the control of the noxious weed, ragwort (Senecio jacobaea L.), in southern Victoria. In England this moth has a strictly uni-voltine life-cycle¹ that includes an obligatory pupal diapause² lasting for an average of 270 days. Because of this diapause³, difficulties were expected in synchronizing emergence of the moths with the Australian summer—for this would require diapause to be terminated in less than 150 days or extended to at least 450 days.