Implication of pupal cold tolerance for the northern over-wintering range limit of the leafminer Liriomyza sativae (Diptera: Agromyzidae) in China

Abstract

This study investigated the cold tolerance of a laboratory-reared population and latitude-separated populations of the leafminer Liriomyza sativae in China in terms of low-temperature survival rate and supercooling capacity. Pupae of the laboratory-reared population are susceptible to freezing temperatures. The supercooling point of the pupae varied at a maximum of up to 10°C among the geographic populations. Both acclimation of the pupae at 5 and 10°C significantly increased the cold survival rate of laboratory-reared and field-collected populations. But the field population had a more active response to the same acclimation regime. Combining the experimental data with previous field investigations, the Ϫ2°C isotherm of the minimum mean temperature of January was proposed as the leafminer's overwintering range limit. Meanwhile, with the widespread availability of greenhouses as a source of re-infestation in northern China, the leafminer's natural border of distribution should be determined by the minimum temperature in warm seasons. Our results suggest that biologically similar Liriomyza species may cope with the intensifying cold stress along the latitude by adopting a mixed cold-tolerance strategy, which is closely associated with the greenhouse microhabitats. The physiologically based modeling of the over-wintering limit provides a tool for guiding the management for greenhouse pests and predicting the source of pest infestation.

Thermal tolerance of Frankliniella occidentalis: Effects of temperature, exposure time, and gender

“…From this point, low temperature may be fatal to WFT, and the deficiency in cold tolerance may limit the distribution of this pest. However, the insect used in present study is a long-term reared population in standard conditions, and difference in cold tolerance may exist between laboratory population and field population (Lee, 1991;Linden, 1993;Chen and Kang, 2005). Therefore, more detailed work on the cold tolerance of different field populations is needed to predict the distribution of this insect.…”

Cold hardiness as a factor for assessing the potential distribution of the Japanese pine sawyerMonochamus alternatus(Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in China

“…In most parts of China, apart from the western high-plateaux, the sum of effective temperatures is high enough for the beetle development during the summer. Several researchers have reported that winter cold is one of the most important factors that limit the distribution of insects in the high-latitude zones [4,12,20,23]. We suggest that low temperatures in winter also play an important role in limiting the distribution and dispersal range of the beetle in China.…”

“…In a similar study in the United States, the northern limit of D. frontalis distribution was successfully predicted using cold hardiness and climatic information [23]. The winter low temperature limits Papilio canadensis and P. glaucus distribution at high latitudes [12], and -2 • C isotherm of the minimum mean temperature in January was proposed as the distribution limit for overwintering of Liriomyza sativae [4].…”

“…Consequently, cold tolerance and overwintering biology as an assessment of population establishment in given geographical areas have been applied to Thrips palmmi in the United Kingdom [15] and to 30 species of drosophilid flies in Japan [10]. Besides, the northern distribution limits of Dendroctonus frontalis in the United States [23], Strophingia ericae and Strophingia cinereae in the United Kingdom [7] and Liriomyza sativae in China [4] were estimated successfully through studies of their cold tolerances including supercooling points (SCPs), survival under low temperatures and acclimation efficiency [9].…”

Can greenhouses eliminate the development of cold resistance of the leafminers?

“…The dotted curve line around 34°N is the northern overwintering limit of L. sativae, beyond which the fly can't overwinter outdoors. The line was simulated based on the À2°C isotherm of monthly minimum mean temperature in January (Zhao and Kang 2000;Chen and Kang 2005, in press data). The data were recorded during 1970(MDD 2002 5 min at each intervening temperature.…”