Preimaginal Development Response to Constant Temperatures inHypera postica(Coleoptera: Curculionidae): Picking the Best Model

Abstract

Immature survival and development of alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), were examined at 15 constant temperatures ranging from 9 to 37 degrees C. At 9 and 37 degrees C, eggs did not develop. Embryos developed to adulthood between 11.5 and 36 degrees C, although survival was low at both ends of the temperature range. Distribution of development times for all stages of alfalfa weevil were skewed toward longer times mainly at moderate temperatures. Constant proportion of time spent in egg, larva, and pupa indicated rate isomorphy within the range 14-31.5 degrees C. No significant difference was shown between development time of males and females at any of the temperatures tested. Two linear and 23 nonlinear models were fitted to describe development rate of immature stages of H. postica as a function of temperature, as well as estimating the thermal constant and critical temperatures (i.e., T(min), T(opt), and T(max)). There was no statistical difference between the estimated parameters, using Ikemoto and ordinary linear methods. Of the nonlinear models fitted, the Logan-6/Lactin-2, Analytis-3/Briere-2, and Analytis-3/Briere-2 models were found to be the best for modeling development rate of egg, larva, and entire immature stages of H. postica, respectively. Our findings will be incorporated in more efficient phenological models of this pest and its population dynamics.

Effect of temperature on the development of Eotetranychus hirsti (Tetranychidae) on fig leaves

“…This study shows that the developmental rate of the E. hirsti increases with temperature within a certain suitable range (15 -32°C) with 35°C causing a decrease in its developmental rate. In agreement with this finding, it is well known that the relationship between temperature and developmental rate in in- sects is linear over most of the normal operating, middle range of temperature, but becomes sigmoid over the whole temperature range that permits development (Andrewartha and Birch, 1954;Jafari et al, 2012;Zahiri et al, 2012). Similar trends for some tetranychoid mites were reported (Liu and Tsai, 1998;Roy et al, 2003;Ullah et al, 2012;Lin, 2013;Riahi et al, 2013).…”

Developmental differences of local populations of alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

“…The main finding in this study is certain differences in immature life stages among western and eastern Iranian populations of alfalfa weevil. Zahiri et al (2010b) determined the survival percentage and immature stage development time of Hamedan populations at different temperatures but similar RH and photoperiod to those in our study. The results of Zahiri et al (2010 b) at 24 °C are comparable to those of our study of the Hamedan population and other western populations (our temperature regime was 23 ± 1 °C).…”

“…The eggs were carefully picked from the stems. Forty eggs from each population were transferred to dampened filter paper in 40 Plexiglas boxes (8 × 13.5 cm) with a camel hair brush (Zahiri et al, 2010b). The boxes were covered with mesh with less than 1-mm mesh size.…”

“…Under natural conditions, H. postica lays eggs in alfalfa stems; hence, to mimic the natural environmental conditions, we kept the filter paper dampened by adding sterilized drip water daily and kept the germinator dark with no light period. After the first larvae hatched, the photoperiod was set to 8 L:16 D in order to prevent aestivation in adults (Dewitt and Armbrust, 1972;Zahiri et al, 2010b).…”

Temperature-dependent development of Lista haraldusalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on Platycarya strobilacea

“…Higher values of R 2 adj indicate a better fit (Aghdam et al, 2009;Zahiri et al, 2010). Because (n − p) is equal to 0, 1 / (n − p) is infinity, and thus the R 2 adj values of Performance is NA.…”