Absolute Humidity as a Factor in Insect Cold Hardiness with a Note on the Effect of Nutrition on Cold Hardiness

Modeling temperature‐dependent development rate and phenology in insects: review of major developments, challenges, and future directions

“…In the early 1900s, the relationship between insect development and temperature was brought to light as a potential factor to control their development. Cold resistance was studied as a way of controlling hibernating insects by Bachmetjew (1900), followed by Sacharov (1930), whereas others, notably Payne (1929), pointed out the importance of relative humidity, and thus the importance of other factors in insect development. Temperature was recognized as the main driver for insect development.…”

COLD HARDINESS OF TINGIS AMPLIATA (HETEROPTERA: TINGIDAE)

“…As in many widely unrelated insect species (Payne, 1926b;Yuill, 1941 andAgwu, 1967), there was a seasonal variation in cold hardiness of Tingis (Fig. 3).…”

“…The mechanism by which insects supercool and alter their internal physiological processes to cope with changing climatic conditions of their habitats, as has been observed in Tingis, is not completely understood. Dehydration of body tissue and/or elimination of gut contents are known to preceed and persist in the early stages of hibernation in some insects (Payne 1929;Anderson 1962). According to the latter author these processes are an adaptation for increased cold tolerance and hardiness.…”

An Experimental Study of the Growth of Populations of the "Flour Beetle" Tribolium Confusum Duval, as Affected by Atmospheric Moisture

“…It is also probable that the difficulties associated with maintaining constant conditions of humidity in spaces large enough to permit of experimental work on biological processes, have to some extent been responsible for '~etarding studies in this direction. Payne ( 1929) has recently shown that some of the phenomena attributed to the action of temperature are as much (if not more) associated with humidity as with temperature. It is thus evident that greater recognition of the importance of atmospheric moisture to insect life is already showing itself.…”

“…Nevertheless both Brooks and Pirie and Murray point out that saturation deficiency cannot be considered alone without temperature, although with perhaps less consideration of temperature than is necessary when the records are given as relative humidity. Payne's ( 1929) results on the relation of humidity to winter hardiness of tussock moth eggs indicate that "vapour pressure" is the most satisfactory method of expressing atmospheric moisture, there being a straight line relationship between it and winter hardiness. Actually in her paper Payne uses the expression "absolute humidity" but the data quoted indicate that it is really vapour pressure which she is considering.…”