Zhurnal evoliutsionnoi biokhimii i fiziologiiAug 19, 2015

How Temperature Affects Development Flexibility in the European Peacock Butterfly

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗

Updated Apr 1, 2026

Abstract

Under short-day conditions (12 hours of light), caterpillars of the European Peacock butterfly developed faster than under long-day conditions (22 hours).

Developmental temperature thresholds did not differ between short-day and long-day conditions.
Males exhibited a significantly higher thermal sensitivity in development compared to females under short-day conditions.
Caterpillar development at an 18-hour day length was less sensitive to temperature changes and had a lower threshold than in shorter and longer days.
Pupae emerged lighter under short-day conditions across all temperature regimens, with pupal weight increasing as temperature rose.
Individual rearing resulted in longer development times and lower thermal sensitivity for both caterpillars and pupae, particularly affecting females more than males.

Simplified

The goal of this study was to examine the plasticity of the thermal reaction norms for development in the European Peacock butterfly Inachis io under the effect of different photoperiodic conditions and group versus individual maintenance. The overwintered imagoes were collected in Old Peterhof (near Saint-Petersburg) in May, 2010 and 2012-2013. 12 experimental regimens were used: 4 temperatures (16, 18, 20 and 22 degrees C) and 3 photoperiods (12, 18 and 22 h of light a day). It was found that under short-day conditions (12 h) the caterpillars developed a little faster than under long-day ones (22 h). The developmental temperature thresholds in these two cases did not differ. A linear regression coefficient characterizing thermal sensitivity of development was significantly higher only in males with their development affected by short-day photoperiod stronger than in females. At 18-h day length, the caterpillar development was less temperature-sensitive and characterized by a lower threshold than in shorter and longer days. The influence of short-day photoperiod on the caterpillar development manifested itself most distinctly in the emerging pupae' weight changes: in all the temperature regimens the pupae were lighter at short than at long days. The pupal weight increased as the temperature rose. The found dependence does not agree with the "temperature-size rule". Individual rearing led to a longer duration and lower thermal sensitivity of caterpillar and pupal development as well as to a reduced weight of the pupae. Individual rearing had a stronger impact on the mineral of females than males.

How Temperature Affects Development Flexibility in the European Peacock Butterfly

Abstract

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