Neurons important for the photoperiodic control of diapause in the bean bug, Riptortus pedestris

Abstract

The morphology and functions of the brain neurons projecting to the retrocerebral complex were examined in terms of photoperiodic control of adult diapause in the bean bug, Riptortus pedestris. Backfills through the nervi corporis cardiaci stained 15-20 pairs of somata in the pars intercerebralis (PI) with contralateral axons, and 14-24 pairs in the pars lateralis (PL) with ipsilateral axons to the nervi corporis cardiaci. In the PL, two clusters of somata, PL-d and PL-v, were found. Forwardfills showed neurons in the PI terminated in the aorta, and those in the PL at the corpus cardiacum, corpus allatum, and aorta. Removal of the PI did not cause effects on diapause incidence both under short-day (12 h:12 h, light:dark) and long-day conditions (16 h:8 h, light:dark) at 25 degrees C. Under short-day conditions, diapause incidence was significantly lower than the controls after removal of the PL. Either removal of PL-d or PL-v did not reduce diapause incidence. It decreased only when both the PL-d and PL-v were ablated. The PI is not indispensable for diapause in R. pedestris, and both PL-d and PL-v neurons are suggested to be involved in photoperiodic inhibition of ovarian development.