What environmental cues work together to signal the necessity for diapause entry in the autumn?
Answer
Shorter photoperiods and cooling temperatures.
The initiation of diapause and the subsequent complex biochemical preparation for winter survival are not triggered by a single factor but by the combined signaling of environmental cues occurring in the autumn. Specifically, the decrease in the length of daylight hours, known as shorter photoperiods, acts in concert with gradually falling ambient temperatures. This dual signal informs the caterpillar that the favorable growing season is ending, necessitating the activation of the antifreeze production pathways and the search for a secure overwintering location.
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