EFFECT OF LOW TEMPERATURE ON CERTAIN ASPECTS OF EMBRYONIC BIOCHEMISTRY OF CORCYRA CEPHALONICA (STAINTON) (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE)

摘要

Laboratory experiments were performed to study the effects of temperature on the hatching percentage, glucose and glycogen levels and acid phosphatase activity in the eggs during embryonic development of the rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica incubated at 30, 28, 26 and 24 degrees C. Lowering the temperature from 30 to 24 degrees C did not affect the hatching percentage of eggs. A significant decrease in glucose levels (mg/egg) occurred during the initial stages followed by an increase, during the later stages of embryogenesis in eggs incubated at all three temperatures, although the levels of variation decreased with decreasing temperature. Acid phosphatase activity showed a more or less, sigmoid pattern of change, with a lowering rate of increase, corresponding to decreasing incubation temperature.