<p><strong>Temperature-dependent development and reproduction of </strong><strong><em>Oligonychus punicae</em></strong><strong> (Acari: Tetranychidae) on Eucalyptus</strong></p>

Abstract

Temperature plays an important role in the development and reproduction of mites. The present study assesses how temperature affects the biology (development and survival of immatures) and life table parameters of Oligonychus punicae. This study also determines the mite thermal requirements (thermal requirement and development base temperature). The experiments were conducted in an air-conditioned chamber under different temperatures (21, 25, 29, 33, and 37ºC). The period of each stage (egg to adult) of O. punicae at different temperatures was used to determine the thermal constant and the lower thermal limit of development. The duration of the periods of pre-oviposition, oviposition, post-oviposition, fecundity, and longevity was recorded. The life table at different temperatures was created using data from the biological cycle. There was an inverse relationship between the development time of O. punicae and temperatures. However, there was no hatching of eggs at 37ºC. All O. punicae eggs resulted in females. The survival analysis for the immature and adult (female) stages of O. punicae showed a decreased life span with increasing temperatures. For the egg-adult period, the lower thermal threshold and the thermal constant for females of O. punicae were 10.34ºC and 163.93 degree-days, respectively. Temperature affected the periods of pre-oviposition, oviposition, and fecundity of adult females of O. punicae, tending to decrease with increasing temperatures. Specific fecundity varied over the oviposition period, decreasing with increasing temperatures. The net reproduction rate decreased significantly following temperatures 21°C to 33°C. The increase in temperature results in a significantly shorter average generation time. The intrinsic rate of increase ranged from 0.15 to 0.20. The finite rates of increase were all greater than 1.00. The effects of temperature on the development of O. punicae varies according to the stage of development. The optimum temperature for O. punicae is between 25 and 29ºC.