title: The hormonal and circadian basis for insect photoperiodic timing.
abstract: Daylength perception in temperate zones is a critical feature of insect life histories, and leads to developmental changes for resisting unfavourable seasons. The role of the neuroendocrine axis in the photoperiodic response of insects is discussed in relation to the key organs and molecules that are involved. We also discuss the controversial issue of the possible involvement of the circadian clock in photoperiodicity. Drosophila melanogaster has a shallow photoperiodic response that leads to reproductive arrest in adults, yet the unrivalled molecular genetic toolkit available for this model insect should allow the systematic molecular and neurobiological dissection of this complex phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schiesari
authors.forename: Charalambos P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Kyriacou
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D007313:Insecta / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D007814:Larva / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D017440:Photoperiod; D011679:Pupa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones