Regulation of diapause in the western corn rootworm (\kur{Diabrotica virgifera virgifera} LeConte)

The thesis aims to optimize the methods of laboratory culture and to fill in the gaps in knowledge of D. virgifera virgifera ecophysiology. The experiments on embryology and development proved that the diapause of D. virgifera virgifera is of obligatory type and can be terminated by exposure to long-day conditions (20:4; photo : scotophase) and constant temperature of 25 °C. Approximately 10% of eggs completed the development to adults within 4 months. Besides numerous other environmental conditions that are discussed, temperature seems to be a key factor influencing longevity in this pest. Higher temperature of 25 °C prolonged survival by more than 20 days in 2015, compared to 22 °C in 2014.