Voltinism

Voltinism is a term used in biology to indicate the number of broods or generations of an organism in a year. The term is particularly in use in sericulture, where silkworm varieties vary in their voltinism.

• Univoltine - (adjective) referring to organisms having one brood or generation per year
• Bivoltine - (adjective) referring to organisms having two broods or generations per year
• Multivoltine - (adjective) referring to organisms having more than two broods or generations per year
• Semivoltine - (adjective) referring to organisms whose generation time is more than one year

Evolution

The number of breeding cycles in a year is under genetic control in many species^[1] and they are evolved in response to the environment. Many phytophagous species which are dependent on seasonal plant resources are univoltine. These species also have the ability to diapause.^[2]

See also

• Semelparity and iteroparity, broods per generation

References

1. ^ Coates BS, Sumerford DV, and Hellmich RL. 2004. Geographic and voltinism differentiation among North American Ostrinia nubilalis (European corn borer) mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase haplotypes. 9pp. Journal of Insect Science, 4:35, Available online: [1]
2. ^ Hunter, M.D. and J.N. McNeil. 1997 Host-plant quality influences diapause and voltinism in a polyphagous insect herbivore. Ecology 78: 977-986. [2]