[en] The photoluminescence of single CdSe quantum dots in ZnSe grown by molecular beam epitaxy and that of the same system grown by atomic layer epitaxy were investigated. The spectral diffusion and on/off behaviour of single CdSe quantum dots were observed, and the spectral diffusion range was only about 1 meV. The spectral peak shifting became quicker as the temperature rose. The spectral change from blue-shift to red-shift (or vice versa) was much quicker than that found in CdSe quantum dots synthesized as colloids. The phenomena are qualitatively explained by a Stark effect which originated from an Auger ionization process. The spectral diffusion may be a common property among single quantum dots. (author). Letter-to-the-editor