Imaginal induction of diapause in several 'adult-female diapausing' spider mites

The possibility of imaginal induction of diapause in adult female spider mites is suggested in Stigmaeopsis miscanthi. Here, several spider mites are studied to investigate the generality of this phenomenon. The existence of imaginal induction of reproductive diapause is established in Stigmaeopsis longus, two forms of S. miscanthi and Tetranychus kanzawai adult females. The females that develop under diapause-averting (long days and 18 degreesC) conditions are induced to diapause under short-daylength conditions at 18 degreesC after moulting to the adult stage. However, the adult females of Tetranychus urticae never diapause under these conditions.