Possible involvement of distinct photoreceptors in the photoperiodic induction of diapause in the flesh fly Sarcophaga similis

Physiological characteristics of the photoreceptors involved in the photoperiodic induction of diapause were investigated in the flesh fly Sarcophaga similis. Both the early and late phases of scotophase were sensitive to light and a light pulse during each of these phases prevented diapause. Certain physiological differences between the phases were, nevertheless, detected. Compared with early scotophase, late scotophase required a light pulse with a long period and a large number of night interruption photoperiodic cycles in order to effectively prevent diapause. The diapause-averting effects of a light pulse during early scotophase were canceled by an additional long dark period, but those during late scotophase were not. Thus, the diapause-averting effects produced during early scotophase are different to those produced during late scotophase. The early scotophase was sensitive to light at wavelengths of 470 nm or shorter, but not to light of 583 nm or longer. In contrast, the late scotophase was sensitive to light of a broad range of wavelengths, ranging from 395 to 660 nm. Furthermore, the early scotophase was considerably more sensitive to monochromatic light with low photon flux density than the late scotophase. These results suggest that different types of photoreceptor are involved in the photoperiodic response.