Late frost : ( what happened to the lepidptera

[Semjase]

>Subject: Late frost : ( what happened to the lepidptera
>From: "Jonathan Sylvestre" <josylvestre at sympatico.ca>
>Date: 5/12/99 5:34 AM Pacific Daylight Time
>Message-id: <hze_2.7321$0L6.6643 at news21.bellglobal.com>
>
>Hi All!
>
>Here, in Québec, since nearly two weeks, the temperature was 25 to 32°C
>during the day and 10 to 20 °C during the nigth. Many lepidoptera species
>began to fly during this period and a great number of them are earlier (I
>caugh some early june species). The plants, tree and flowers  has grown and
>everything was wonderfull !!!!
>
>BUT this morning, when I went out of my bed, the temperature was -3 to -5
>°C..........  ice on the grass and on puddle... Many plantes stem and leaf
>become fade...
>
>So I asking myself : "What will happend to lepidoptera (their larva, pupae,
>eggs) that are not adapted to such temperature?"... For example, young
>larva, freshly layed eggs... Can all species of lepidoptera frost at any
>stage of their life ? whitout any problem ?
>
>I would be happy to hear your opinion... IM little anxious...
>
>Thanks and have a nice Lep season
>--
>Jonathan Sylvestre
>Home Page : http://fly.to/lepidoptera/
>"Butterflies and Moths of Quebec"

Hi Jonathan:

If this hard frost is widespread and not just isolated to your area there would
be a negative effect.  Fortunately not all pupae etc. break diapause at the
same time so there will still be survivors.

S.