Photoflashes: A Potential New Tool for Control of Insect Populations

Abstract
Imported cabbageworms, Pieris rapae (L.), were reared in cans exposed to light from fluorescent lamps for 10 hours daily. When larvae were exposed to daily electronic photoflashes scheduled 3 to 4 hours after the fluorescent lamp was turned off, pupae failed to diapause. Effective wavelengths are lower than those controlling photoperiodism in plants. The effective energies are about 1 joule per square centimeter.