Effect of elevated CO2 and temperature on thermal constants and lower threshold temperatures of maize aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch.) (Aphididae:Hemiptera) on maize, Zea mays (Linn.)

The objective of this study was to examine the development of corn leaf aphid,Rhopalosiphum maidis Fitch (Aphididae: Hemiptera) on maize Zea mays Linnaeus at elevated and ambient concentrations of CO2 (550 and 380ppm ± 25 ppm, respectively) at six temperatures (20, 25, 27, 30, 33 and 35°C) and to estimate thermal constants and lower temperature thresholds for the forecasting models based on heat accumulation units which could be developed for use in forecasting. The duration of different growth stages of R.maidis were reduced with an increase of temperature from 20°C to 35°C under both ambient and elevated CO2 conditions. The lower development threshold for first nymphal instar,second nymphal instar, third nymphal instar, fourth nymphal instar, adult duration and total development period required 10.1, 5.04, 13.42, 26.96, 10.9, 23.22 and 20.20°C under eCO2 whereas it was 13.32, 9.41, 19.13, 30.48, 16.38, 22.88 and 20.89°C under aCO2 conditions,respectively. The mean lower temperature threshold for nymph was slightly higher (16.38°C) at aCO2 compared to that of eCO2 (10.90°C) whereas for adult the mean lower temperature threshold was slightly higher (23.22°C) at eCO2 compared to that of aCO2 (22.88°C). The thermal requirement of R. maidis from first nymphal instar to adult (total development period) was found to be 100.00 degree days (DD) under eCO2 conditions as against 111.11degree days under aCO2 conditions. These estimated temperature thresholds and thermal constant can predict the pest scenarios and population dynamics of R. maidis.

Biology at Different Temperatures, Thermal Requirements, and Ecological Zoning of Opogona sacchari (Lepidoptera: Tineidae)

The banana moth, Opogona sacchari (Bojer, 1856), is a polyphagous pest that causes serious damage to different crops around the world, particularly to bananas in southern Brazil. The insect is designated a quarantine pest in several countries including Argentina, the main consumer market for bananas produced in southern Brazil. To provide support for the management of O. sacchari, the present study investigated the biology and thermal requirements at eight temperatures (18, 22, 25, 28, 30, 32, 33, and 34 ± 1°C) and constructed a fertility life table at five temperatures (18, 22, 25, 28, and 30 ± 1°C). Above 30°C, the mortality of all life stages was 100%; the best temperature for development was 25°C. Based on this information, an ecological zoning of the pest was developed for Brazil. The lower temperature threshold was 8.6°C. The zoning indicated that the pest does not occur in regions with warmer climates, corresponding to the actual distribution of this pest in Brazil.

Nonlinear models for describing development and fecundity of the pseudococcid predators Nephus includens and Nephus bisignatus

Among several mathematical models used to describe the development or the fecundity of insects the equations of Enkegaard, Analytis, Bieri 1 and Bieri 2 could describe both biological features. In the current study these equations used to describe the development and fecundity of two pseudococcid predators [Nephus includens (Kirsch) and Nephus bisignatus (Boheman) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)] preying on Planococcus citri (Risso) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) at constant temperatures (15oC - 35oC). All models have goodness of fit to data especially for development [R2 adj, RSS and AIC ranged 0.9908-0.9996, 0.0019-89.1752 (x10-4), and (-75.43) – (-31.07) respectively]. Optimum temperature (Topt) and upper threshold (Tmax) were calculated accurately by all models (Topt ranged 32.6-34.0oC for N. includens and 30.0-30.6oC for N. bisignatus and Tmax ranged 35.0-38.8oC for N. includens and 33.1-36.0oC for N. bisignatus, respectively). Lower temperature threshold (Tmin) was calculated accurately by Bieri-1 model (11.0 and 10.0oC for N. includens and N. bisignatus respectively) whereas Analytis model underestimated it (8.0 and 4.9oC). As far as fecundity is concerned the respective values were better fitted near the optimum temperature (25oC) [R2 adj, RSS and AIC ranged 0.8246-0.9704, 9.2729-24.0736 and (-246.82) – (-115.34) respectively]. Conclusively, from the tested models the Bieri-1 equation was proved as the most appropriate for the reason that could estimate correctly all the requested parameters concerning the development (Tmin, Topt, Tmax) as well as it could describe sufficiently the fecundity trend of the two predators.

Temperature dependent development of Phenacoccus solenopsis under laboratory conditions

Cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is an important cotton pest in Punjab, India. Development of the immature stages (four instars in female and five in male) of P. solenopsis was observed at nine constant temperatures (15, 18, 20, 25, 30, 34, 35, 38, 40°C). Using the linear model, the lower temperature threshold (tmin) for development was estimated to be 4.93 and 2.95°C and the thermal constant (K) was 333.33 and 454.54 degree days for female and male, respectively. In addition, three nonlinear models (Lactin, Bieri-1 and 3rd order polynomial) were tested to describe the relationship between temperature and development rate and to estimate the upper developmental threshold (tmax) and the optimum temperature for development (topt). Our results proved that the Bieri-1 and Lactin models and provided the best fit (r2 = 93,4 – 99,9%) and estimated accurately all the three critical temperatures, ranged tmin = 5.06 – 5.25°C, topt = 33.55 – 33.60°C, tmax = 39.99 – 40.00°C, for the total development of females and tmin = 2.82 – 3.16°C, topt = 34.01 – 34.04°C, tmax =40.00 – 40.10°C, for the total development of males.

Lower temperature threshold of black soldier fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) development

The black soldier fly has shown great promise in addressing two environmental concerns: (1) waste management; and (2) protein supplementation for use as feed for livestock, poultry, and aquaculture. Thus, tremendous efforts have been placed on mass-production of the black soldier fly. Currently, little is known about the thermal tolerance limits of black soldier fly eggs and immatures. The objective of this study was to determine the lower temperature threshold for black soldier fly development. Development time, egg eclosion and adult emergence success were measured at 12, 16 and 19 °C. We determined that the lower threshold for egg hatch was between 12 and 16 °C, taking 15 days to hatch. Furthermore, we determined that the lower temperature threshold for larvae is between 16 and 19 °C with egg hatch in 7.75 days at 19 °C. Mean development time from egg to adult at 19 °C was 72 days.

Fish growth and degree-days II: selecting a base temperature for an among-population study

The degree-day (DD) is a method of describing the thermal opportunity for growth and development and is becoming increasingly popular when comparing fish growth over large spatial scales (e.g., counter-gradient growth). Temperatures too cold to permit growth are excluded in the DD equation by incorporating a lower temperature threshold (To). However, there is no convention for choosing To, and unknown is the effect of an incorrect To on how growth is perceived. We simulate data to demonstrate how an incorrect To may lead to differences in temperature-corrected growth rates among populations. These differences increase with the error in To and the thermal range among simulated populations. We then show the same relationships in an analysis of length-at-age data from 81 walleye (Sander vitreus) populations in North America. Together, our results demonstrate that differences in temperature-corrected growth rates among populations can be a statistical artifact rather than a biological phenomenon, especially when populations are distributed over a large thermal gradient.

INTRINSIC RATE OF INCREASE AND TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENTS OF THE APHID PARASITE EPHEDRUS CALIFORNICUS BAKER (HYMENOPTERA: APHIDIDAE)

The demographic statistics and the temperature requirements for development of Ephedrus californicus Baker were determined under constant laboratory conditions. At 23 °C, females provided each day with forty 2nd-instar pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), lived for 13.4 days and laid 1193 eggs on average; the highest fecundity of any female was 1762 eggs. For an assumed population sex ratio of 1:1 males to females, the intrinsic rate of increase, r, was 0.371 females·female−1·day−1 when all eggs laid were counted. The lower temperature threshold for development, t, was estimated as 6.83 °C, and the time-to-adult, K, as 228.9 degree-days. The potential use of E. californicus in the biological control of the lupine aphid, Macrosiphum albifrons Essig, in England is considered.

THERMAL CONSTANTS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE PEA APHID (HOMOPTERA: APHIDIDAE) AND SOME OF ITS PARASITES

The relationship between the temperature and the speed of development is described for the Kamloops ‘biotype’ of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, and some of its associated hymenopterous parasites. The primary parasites are: Aphidius ervi ervi, A. ervi pulcher, A. smithi, and Praon pequodorum; and the secondary parasites are: Asaphes lucens and Dendrocerus niger. For each species the lower temperature threshold for development and the time-to-adult was determined under constant laboratory conditions using field-grown alfalfa as a host plant for the pea aphid and the first-generation offspring of field-collected aphids and parasites. The thermal constants enable the prediction of aphid and parasite population growth, as influenced by temperature, on a physiological time-scale.