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.
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30 May 2018
Dynamics of Supercooling Ability and Cold Tolerance of the Alder Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
Külli Hiiesaar,
Tanel Kaart,
Ingrid H. Williams,
Anne Luik,
Luule Metspalu,
Angela Ploomi,
Eha Kruus,
Katrin Jõgar,
Marika Mänd
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Environmental Entomology
Vol. 47 • No. 4
August 2018
Vol. 47 • No. 4
August 2018
Bimodality
cold tolerance
LTemp50
Seasonality
supercooling point