Larvae of the blow fly, Lucilia sericata (Meigen), enter diapause in the third instar after cessation of feeding. The effects of temperature and photoperiod on the termination of diapause were examined. The diapause terminated spontaneously under the diapause-inducing condition of 20°C and LD 12:12, although pupariation was not synchronous. Diapause development proceeded under a low temperature of 7.5°C. Transfer to long-day conditions of LD 16:8 or to a high temperature of 25°C induced prompt and synchronous pupariation. Low temperatures in winter probably play a predominant role in the termination of diapause under natural conditions.