Dynamics of Supercooling Ability and Cold Tolerance of the Alder Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Agelastica alni L. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a common beetle pest of alder trees (Alnus incana L.) in forests and parks across Estonia.The supercooling ability and capacity to survive low temperature exposure changes temporally. Relatively high unimodal supercooling point (SCP) levels (with a m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental entomology 2018-08, Vol.47 (4), p.1024-1029
Main Authors: Hiiesaar, Külli, Kaart, Tanel, Williams, Ingrid H, Luik, Anne, Metspalu, Luule, Ploomi, Angela, Kruus, Eha, Jõgar, Katrin, Mänd, Marika
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acclimatization
Animals
bimodality
Cold Temperature - adverse effects
cold tolerance
Coleoptera - growth & development
Coleoptera - physiology
Diapause, Insect
Freezing
Longevity
LTemp50
PHYSIOLOGICAL ECOLOGY
seasonality
Seasons
supercooling point
Time Factors
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Summary:Agelastica alni L. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a common beetle pest of alder trees (Alnus incana L.) in forests and parks across Estonia.The supercooling ability and capacity to survive low temperature exposure changes temporally. Relatively high unimodal supercooling point (SCP) levels (with a mean value of -6 to -8°C) were characteristic of the beetles in September during their diapause induction period, in April when the beetles had terminated their diapause development and in May when they started to reproduce. During their deep diapause period the SCPs of beetles had a bimodal distribution. Some beetles decreased their SCPs to -14 to -19°C while others retained a high SCP value of -6 to -8°C. Most vulnerable to low temperature were overwintered active beetles in May; after 1 h exposure their LTemp50 (median lethal temperature) was -6.3°C. In September with the onset of diapause tolerance of beetles started to increase, LTemp50 = -7.7°C. Beetles were most cold tolerant during their deep diapause period with LTemp50 < -12.0°C. A. alni beetles use one of two different strategies for overwintering, some are freeze-tolerant while others are freeze-avoidant. The freeze-avoidant beetles with low SCP (-12 to -15°C) acquired greater cold tolerance than those with higher SCP (-6 to -8°C), with LTemp50 = -13.7°C and LTemp50 = -11°C, respectively.
ISSN:0046-225X
1938-2936
DOI:10.1093/ee/nvy075