POPULATION-GENETIC CHARACTERISTICS OF OUTBREAKS OF MASS PROPAGATION OF GYPSY-MOTH (LYMANTRIA-DISPAR L)

For the purpose of studying the response of a gypsy-moth population to changes in external conditions, the author conducted field and labora tory investigations of the reaction of various phenotypes of this spec ies to stressful situations. The results obtained indicate different a daptive value of various phenotypes of gypsy-moth caterpillars. On the basis of these data, and also known population-genetic characteristic s of gypsy moth, a possible mechanism of outbreaks of mass propagation of this species is suggested.