Comparing the freezing susceptibility of third-instar larvae of Gnorimus variabilis (Cetoniidae: Trichiinae) from three distant geographical regions

We compared the freezing susceptibility of three populations of Gnorimus variabilis (L., 1758) (Coleoptera: Cetoniidae) sampled from three distant locations in France. To separate the effects of habitat quality from those of genetics, we reared imagos from all field populations in a common garden experiment until the emergence of the third-instar larvae. The local climate appeared to determine the cold hardiness of the third-instar larvae, which live exclusively in cold seasons. The geographical location had an effect on the frost resistance (supercooling point) of the third-instar larvae of G. variabilis. We found no significant differences between the supercooling points of the populations originating from separate latitudes but from the same longitude, Sare (-10.9 +/- 4.1 degreesC) and Husson (-11.5 +/- 3.8 degreesC). Nonetheless, significant differences occurred between the larvae originating from the same northern latitude but from separate longitudes, Husson and La Robertsau (-17.8 +/- 2.9 degreesC). It is the first time that a highly significant difference in the supercooling point of one stage within a single species has been observed along geographical gradients. Moreover, 19 of the 24 larvae originating from La Robertsau were alive after they were kept for 22 h at -10 degreesC compared with only 7 of the 24 larvae originating from Sare. When the three populations were reared in the laboratory under the same experimental conditions, the differential cryoresistance was preserved. It is likely that the greater freezing resistance found in the third-instar larvae of G. variabilis from La Robertsau could have a genetic component.