Molt as a Component of Insect Development: Galerucella sagittariae (Chrysomelidae) and Epirrita autumnata (Geometridae)

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Abstract
The process of insect molt has been largely ignored by ecologists even though the importance of larval development is acknowledged. We measured the time lost to molt, based on growth rates in the surrounding stadia, of two insect herbivores. Molting from the penultimate to the final instar required a surprisingly long time in both species: 2.43 d in Epirrita autumnata at 12.degree. C (an average field temperature), and 3.58 d in Galerucella sagittariae. This comprised 43% and 50% respectively, of the total time in developing from the beginning of one instar to the beginning of the next. Epirrita molting time increased from 1.00 d at 24.degree. to 8.27 d at 6.degree.; Galerucella required 0.98 d at 24.degree. and were unable to molt at 6.degree.. Low temperatures retarded the development of molting larvae more than growing larvae. The geographic distribution of insects may be constrained by their ability to molt at low temperatures.

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