Switch in the overwintering strategy of two insect species and latitudinal differences in cold hardiness

Abstract

A switch from freezing tolerance to freezing intolerance (avoidance) occurred between winter 1980 and winter 1981 in Dendroides canadensis and between 1979 and 1983 in Cucujus clavipes at the same geographical location in northern Indiana (41°30′N). This change in overwintering strategy was not related to latitudinal interpopulation differences, because different populations (latitude range 35°30′N–45°20′N) subsequently sampled were all intolerant of freezing. A 1-week midwinter thaw had no effect on the overwintering mode or cold hardiness of the midlatitude population of D. canadensis. However, high-latitude populations of D. canadensis were more cold hardy (survived 24-h freezing at temperatures above −25 °C) than populations from low latitudes (survived freezing at temperatures above −15 °C). All individuals of the northernmost populations survived low temperatures (−15 °C for 2 weeks) whereas only 14% of the southern-ranging individuals survived that temperature regime.