Egg incubation temperature differently affects female and male hatching dynamics and larval fitness in a leafhopper

Abstract

Temperature effects on ectotherms are widely studied particularly in insects. However, the life-history effects of temperature experienced during a window of embryonic development, that is egg stage, have rarely been considered. We simulated fluctuating temperatures and examined how this affects the operational sex ratio (OSR) of hatching as well as nymph and adult fitness in a leafhopper, Scaphoideus titanus. Specifically, after a warm or cold incubation we compared males and females hatching dynamics with their consequences on the sex ratio in the course of time, body size, weight, and developmental rate of the two populations, all reared on the same posthatching temperature. Males and females eggs respond differently, with females more sensitive to variation in incubation temperature. The different responses of both sexes have consequences on the sex ratio dynamic of hatchings with a weaker protandry after warm incubation. Temperatures experienced by eggs have more complex consequences on posthatching development. Later nymphal instars that hatched from eggs exposed to warm temperature were larger and bigger but developmental rate of the two populations was not affected. Our study demonstrates how incubation temperature could affect operational sex ratio and posthatching development in an insect and how this may be critical for population growth.

Different emergence phenology of European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana, Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on six varieties of grapes

“…One of our most interesting results is that the emergence phenology of L. botrana was different on different grape varieties. Many abiotic factors, such as temperature and humidity, influence adult emergence (Curry & Feldman, 1987; Weiss et al ., 1993; Chuche & Thiéry, 2012). Nevertheless, the different grape varieties in our study were close together, grew on similar soil, and were exposed to similar climate; hence we believe that environmental differences had only a minor role in causing differences in emergence.…”

“…Numerous studies have shown that the duration of larval development and the timing of adult emergence vary significantly among populations and between years within individual populations (see Weiss et al ., 1993 for an example). This may be due to numerous interacting factors, such as genetic differences among individuals and populations, environmental factors (weather conditions, photoperiod, and temperature), and local habitat characteristics (Taylor, 1981; Curry & Feldman, 1987; Danks, 1994, 2002; Weiss & Weiss, 1998; Chuche & Thiéry, 2012; but see Forrest & Miller-Rushing, 2010 for a review). The effect of varying thermal regimes on larval development has been investigated (Weiss et al ., 1993; Ellwood et al ., 2012), but the effect of juvenile resource quality on larval development is often neglected.…”

Biology and ecology of the Flavescence dorée vector Scaphoideus titanus: a review

“…Eggs pass the winter during a 6-to 8-month diapause stage (Fig. 6), and diapause does not require the exposure to cold temperatures to be broken (Chuche and Thiéry 2012).…”

Ecological investigations on Hydrophilidae and Helophoridae (Coleoptera) specimens gathered from several water bodies of Western Turkey

“…Water temperature is the most effective environmental variable in development rate in terrestrial and aquatic ectotherms (Ragland and Kingsolver, 2008), and insects are affected from the changes of temperature during their life time especially in such periods as egg stage and embryonic development (Chuche and Thiéry, 2012). In this study, the mean temperature of 99 aquatic sites were about 24.57°C.…”