Insect Genetics and Biochemistry Research Site Logo
ARS Home About Us Helptop nav spacerContact Us En Espanoltop nav spacer
Printable VersionPrintable Version     E-mail this pageE-mail this page
Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture
Search
  Advanced Search
 
Programs and Projects
Subjects of Investigation
 

Research Project: INSECT CRYOPRESERVATION, DORMANCY, GENETICS AND BIOCHEMISTRY

Location: Insect Genetics and Biochemistry Research

Title: Duration of prepupal summer dormancy regulates synchronization of adult diapause with winter temperatures in bees of the genus Osmia

Authors
item Sgolastra, Fabio -
item Kemp, William
item Maini, Stefano -
item Bosch, Jordi -

Submitted to: Journal of Insect Physiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: April 18, 2012
Publication Date: July 1, 2012
Repository URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/54518
Citation: Sgolastra, F., Kemp, W.P., Maini, S., Bosch, J. 2012. Duration of prepupal summer dormancy regulates synchronization of adult diapause with winter temperatures in bees of the genus Osmia. Journal of Insect Physiology. 58(7):924-933.

Interpretive Summary: Osmia (Osmia) bees are excellent pollinators of many orchard crops, including, almonds, apples, cherries and pears. These bees have one generation each year and overwinter as diapausing adults (the insect equivalent to hibernating). In these species, the timing of transition to the adult stage relative to the onset of wintering conditions is critical, because adults exposed to long pre-wintering periods show increased lipid loss and thus winter mortality. Populations from warm areas fly in February-March and are exposed to longer growth seasons than populations from colder areas, which fly in April-May. Given their inability to produce an extra generation, early-flying populations develop slower than late-flying populations and thus avoid the negative consequences of long pre-wintering periods. The objective of this study is to understand how distinct populations of two Osmia species differ in their development in synchrony with local growth seasons. We monitored development under natural and laboratory conditions, and analyzed the response of three important developmental stages to temperature. Early-flying populations took ~2 months longer to develop than late-flying populations. Differences between populations in two of the life stages that we studied were very small, but we found that a third development stage was much longer in the early-flying populations. In contrast, this third developmental stage showed a non-linear response to temperature and was strongly affected by temperature cycles and we conclude that the this developmental stage (prepupa) in Osmia corresponds to a short summer diapause, and that it represents the main mechanism by which populations adjust adult eclosion to the onset of winter temperatures.

Technical Abstract: Osmia (Osmia) bees are strictly univoltine and winter as diapausing adults. In these species, the timing of adult eclosion with the onset of wintering conditions is critical, because adults exposed to long pre-wintering periods show increased lipid loss and winter mortality. Populations from warm areas fly in February-March and are exposed to longer growth seasons than populations from colder areas, which fly in April-May. Given their inability to produce an extra generation, early-flying populations must develop slower than late-flying populations to avoid the negative consequences of long pre-wintering periods. The objective of this study is to understand how phenologically-distinct populations of two Osmia species adjust their development to the duration of local growth seasons. We monitored development under natural and laboratory conditions, and analyzed the response of larval, prepupal and pupal stages to temperature. Early-flying populations took ~2 months longer to develop than late-flying populations. Differences between populations in larval and pupal period duration were very small, whereas the prepupal period was much longer in the early-flying populations. In contrast to the larval and pupal stages, the prepupal stage showed a non-linear response to temperature and was strongly affected by thermoperiod. In addition, respiration rates reached minimum values during the prepupal period. We conclude that the prepupal period in Osmia corresponds to a short summer diapause, and that it represents the main mechanism by which populations adjust adult eclosion to the onset of winter temperatures. We discuss the implications of our results in the face of impeding global warming.

   

 
Project Team
Kemp, William - Bill
Rinehart, Joseph - Joe
Roehrdanz, Richard
Yocum, George
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Crop Protection & Quarantine (304)
 
Related Projects
   DEVELOPMENT OF IMPROVED MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR POLLINATORS, ALFALFA LEAFCUTTER BEE, MEGACHILE ROTUNDATA AND BLUE ORCHARD BEE, OSMIA LIGNARIA
   DEVELOPMENT OF A ROBOTIC SYSTEM FOR HIGH THROUGH-PUT INSECT EMBRYO CRYOPRESERVATION
   SYNCHRONIZING POLLINATORS WITH ALMOND BLOOM: PART ONE, AN ENVIRONMENTAL COVARIATE FOR THE DENNIS/KEMP MODEL
 
 
Last Modified: 05/21/2013
ARS Home | USDA.gov | Site Map | Policies and Links 
FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Nondiscrimination Statement | Information Quality | USA.gov | White House