Overwintering Strategies and Post-Diapause Female Reproduction Fitness in the Willow Leaf Beetle Plagiodera versicolora (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Diapause, a survival strategy utilized by many insects under severe environmental conditions, can generate costs that potentially affect post-diapause development and reproduction. The willow leaf beetle, <i>Plagiodera versicolora</i>, overwinters as an adult. This study investigated the cold hardiness-hardiness and energy utilization of female <i>P. versicolora</i>, and their impact on post-diapause reproductive fitness. The supercooling point exhibited seasonal temperature variation, with the lowest points occurring in January and February, coinciding with the relatively lower ambient temperatures. Lipid content demonstrated a pronounced decline at the onset of diapause (from November to December) and stabilized from December to March. Glycogen content also showed a sharp decrease from November to January, subsequently stabilizing at relatively constant levels. In addition, trehalose content increased significantly when temperatures dropped (from November to January) and then decreased as temperatures rose (from January to March). There were no significant differences in the time from pairing to successful mating for post-diapause females compared with non-diapause females. However, mating duration and the pre-oviposition period for post-diapause individuals relative to non-diapause individuals increased, coupled with a reduction in the oviposition period, total number of eggs, number of egg clutches, and number of eggs per clutch; however, most importantly, there was no notable change in egg-hatching success. These results suggest that the cold-hardiness strategy of <i>P. versicolora</i> falls within the freeze-avoidance category, with energy usage predominantly reliant on lipids and carbohydrates during diapause initiation. Our findings also highlight that, although post-diapause females are capable of nutrient replenishment, the energetic demands of diapause result in considerable negative impacts on post-diapause female reproductive fitness.