Document Detail


Re-examination of the roles of environmental factors in the control of body-color polyphenism in solitarious nymphs of the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria with special reference to substrate color and humidity.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  22075390     Owner:  NLM     Status:  Publisher    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
This study re-examines the effects of environmental factors including substrate color, humidity, food quality, light intensity and temperature on the green-brown polyphenism, black patterning and background body color of solitarious (isolated-reared) nymphs of Schistocerca gregaria. All individuals reared in yellow-green or yellow containers became green morphs, whereas those reared in white, ivory-colored, blue, grey, brown, zinc-colored and black containers produced brown morphs in similar proportions. The intensity of black patterns was negatively correlated with the brightness of the substrate color of the containers. Humidity, which previous studies claimed controls green-brown polyphenism in this species, exerted no significant influence on either the green-brown polyphenism or the black patterning. Food quality also had little effect on body color. High temperature tended to inhibit darkening. The background body color on the thorax was greatly influenced by the substrate color of rearing containers and a close correlation was found between these two variables, indicating that, in contrast to what has been suggested by others, this species exhibits homochromy to match the body color to the substrate color of its habitat. Similar responses were observed in another strain, although some quantitative differences occurred between the two strains examined. Based on these results, a new model explaining the control of body-color polyphenism in this locust is proposed and the ecological significance of black patterns in solitarious nymphs is discussed.
Authors:
Seiji Tanaka; Ken-Ichi Harano; Yudai Nishide
Publication Detail:
Type:  JOURNAL ARTICLE     Date:  2011-10-31
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of insect physiology     Volume:  -     ISSN:  1879-1611     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2011 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-11-14     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  2985080R     Medline TA:  J Insect Physiol     Country:  -    
Other Details:
Languages:  ENG     Pagination:  -     Citation Subset:  -    
Copyright Information:
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Affiliation:
Locust Research Laboratory, National Institute of Agro-biological Sciences at Ohwashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8634, Japan.
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