The Effect of Physio-Chemical Treatments on Diapausing Eggs of Northern Corn Rootworms, Diabrotica longicornis1

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Abstract
Laboratory techniques for hatching eggs of Diabrotica longicornis (Say) by utilization of physio-chemical treatments were developed. The effects of available moisture, temperature, chemicals, substrates and adult photoperiods, in several combinations and at varied treatment durations upon hatch of D. longicornis eggs were studied. Eggs from field-collected adult beetles, caged under laboratory conditions, were used in all egg hatching experiments. Maximum egg hatch occurred after 8 to 11 weeks at 40° F in a moist environment. Topical application of ether or indoleacetic acid at 10-5 dilution after 8- or 12-week pretreatment periods at 40° F was the most effective of the chemical treatments used. Eggs collected from adult beetles exposed to the 12-hr photoperiod yielded a higher hateh than from the 8- or 16-hour photoperiods. Fungicide treatments of a 1: 100 mercuric chloride solution did not prove successful in controlling fungal growth on rootworm eggs during extended treatment periods, and the fungicide depressed hatching.