Maturation of post-hibernation flight behaviour in the Coccinellid Coleomegilla maculata (DeGeer)

Coleomegilla maculata flies from its hibernation sites to breeding areas in the spring. Flight behaviour among the hibernating beetles was studied using the tethered flight technique. It was found that there is a successive maturation of flight behaviour in the spring. This process is mainly controlled by temperature acting over an extended period. From a standstill at 15°C the rate of the maturation process increased as the temperature was raised. Short photoperiods exerted a depressing effect on glight development early in the winter, but later this effect disappears.