五种植物作为南方小花蝽储蓄植物的适合性评价

储蓄植物系统作为一种开放式的天敌饲养系统,越来越多地应用到温室及田间的害虫防治.南方小花蝽 Orius similis Zheng可捕食蓟马、蚜虫等多种害虫,是农业上一类极具应用价值的捕食性天敌.为提高南方小花蝽的控害效果,建立南方小花蝽储蓄植物系统是一种极为有效的方法.为了筛选适用于南方小花蝽保育和增殖的储蓄植物,进而构建南方小花蝽储蓄植物系统,本研究选择了月季Rosa chinensis、长寿花Narcissus jonquilla、辣椒Capsicum annuum、黄瓜Cucumis sativus和蚕豆Vicia faba作为候选的储蓄植物,通过六臂嗅觉仪分析了南方小花蝽对5种植物花朵的气味选择性,同时分析了南方小花蝽在5种植物上的繁殖系数、发育历期、存活率等生物学参数.结果表明43.33％的南方小花蝽雌虫偏好辣椒花朵气味,其次为蚕豆(26.67％);南方小花蝽卵的孵化率在辣椒上最高达到95.59％,其次为蚕豆为80.74％;同时,南方小花蝽卵在蚕豆上的发育历期显著低于另外4种植物,仅有4.92 d.综上所述,本研究初步认为辣椒和蚕豆比较适合用来构建南方小花蝽储蓄植物系统.     

米蛾卵饲养东亚小花蝽的关键点研究

本研究在实验室条件下,评价了以米蛾Corcyra cephalonica卵作为东亚小花蝽Orius sauteri替代饲料的饲养效率及其对米蛾卵的取食量等,探讨了成虫最佳饲养密度和最佳产卵基质等繁殖关键技术点。结果发现,东亚小花蝽取食米蛾卵可以满足全世代生长发育的营养需求,单雌均产卵量为70.5±4.2粒,种群指数为22.18;东亚小花蝽雌成虫一生需要取食米蛾卵183.8±5.4粒;以每对成虫50 cm3的空间密度饲养东亚小花蝽成虫时,其单雌产卵量最多（70.2±3.2粒）,与雌成虫单头饲养时的产卵量（70.5±4.2粒）相近;在供试的四种产卵基质中,东亚小花蝽偏好选择白芸豆Phaseolus Bulgaris嫩茎和具叶柄叶片作为产卵基质,其卵的孵化率可达91.76%,显著高于发芽的蚕豆Vicia faba种子和夏至草Lagopsis supina 嫩茎。以上研究结果可为东亚小花蝽的规模化饲养提供有价值的技术依据。     

麦蛾卵对南方小花蝽生长发育和繁殖的影响

南方小花蝽Orius strigicollis作为一种广食性捕食性天敌昆虫,可高效控制蓟马、蚜虫及螨类等多种害虫,极具生防潜能.但目前国内南方小花蝽商业化进程相对滞后,其中未找到适合的饲料来源是主要的限制因素之一.本研究以新鲜麦蛾Sitotroga cerealella卵和紫外线处理的麦蛾卵作为饲养南方小花蝽的替代猎物,以南方小花蝽的天然猎物西花蓟马Frankliniella occidentalis为对照,通过比较其发育历期、存活率及寿命等生物学指标,组建生命表来评价麦蛾卵对南方小花蝽的饲喂效果.结果发现:以新鲜麦蛾卵、紫外处理麦蛾卵和西花蓟马饲喂的南方小花蝽若虫发育历期均无显著性差异,但取食新鲜麦蛾卵的南方小花蝽若虫存活率(60.5％)高于其他两种猎物;同时,饲喂新鲜麦蛾卵的南方小花蝽雌虫寿命(37.3 d)和雄成虫寿命(23.0 d)以及产卵量(74.0粒)均最高,其次是紫外处理麦蛾卵,而西花蓟马最低;饲喂新鲜麦蛾卵的南方小花蝽存活率、净增殖率(47.91)、内禀增长率(0.10)、周限增长率(1.11)和世代平均周期(36.5 d)均大于饲喂紫外处理麦蛾卵和饲喂西花蓟马,且种群加倍时间也以饲喂新鲜麦蛾卵的南方小花蝽最短(6.57 d).本研究结果表明麦蛾卵可作为南方小花蝽饲养的替代猎物,且以新鲜麦蛾卵为最佳.     

两种猎物对南方小花蝽种群增长的影响及其对二斑叶螨的控害潜能

南方小花蝽(半翅目:花蝽科)是农田害虫的重要天敌之一。在室内,分别用米蛾卵和二斑叶螨饲养南方小花蝽,采用生命表与功能反应方法,探讨了两种猎物(米蛾卵、二斑叶螨)对南方小花蝽种群增长的影响、评价了南方小花蝽应用前景。南方小花蝽取食米蛾卵的年龄特征生命表的参数如下:世代平均历期T= 24.3500d,雌性比率P_♀=0.5250,单雌平均产卵量FP_F=37.2857头,种群趋势指数(I)=9.2118,周限增长率λ＝1.0955,内禀增长率r_m＝0.0912。取食二斑叶螨的南方小花蝽能完成发育,雌雄可交配,但不能产卵。一龄若虫的存活率为81.19%,低于其它龄期的若虫存活率(89.5%以上)。从初孵若虫至成虫死亡,平均历期为19.3716d。取食米蛾卵的南方小花蝽成虫存活率为83.33%,而取食二斑叶螨的成虫存活率为59.68%;取食米蛾卵的南方小花蝽若虫平均历期(11.0633d)短于取食二斑叶螨的(13.8950d);然而取食米蛾卵的南方小花蝽成虫平均历期(9.9750d)明显长于取食二斑叶螨的(5.7297d)。表明米蛾卵能够满足南方小花蝽生长发育的营养需求,可以用来室内饲养南方小花蝽,二斑叶螨室内不能单独用于饲养南方小花蝽。南方小花蝽成虫对二斑叶螨成螨捕食功能反应符合HollingⅡ模型,且处置时间Th=0.0108,瞬间攻击率a=0.8253,日最大捕食量Na_max =92.59 d^-1。南方小花蝽是二斑叶螨潜在的生物防治资材。     

短时高温暴露对绿盲蝽和中黑盲蝽存活及生殖的影响

绿盲蝽和中黑盲蝽是危害棉花害虫的两个优势种,为探明短时高温暴露对绿盲蝽和中黑盲蝽存活和生殖的影响,将在27℃饲养的绿盲蝽和中黑盲蝽的卵和初孵若虫每天暴露在不同高温(30、33、36、40℃)4 h,以27℃恒温饲养的为对照,比较两种盲蝽卵的孵化率、若虫存活率、成虫产卵量的变化以及两者的差异。研究结果显示:在27—40℃范围内,随着温度的升高,绿盲蝽卵的孵化率先从27℃处理的84.25%上升至30℃处理的94.69%,而后开始下降,36℃处理的孵化率下降为76.84%,到40℃处理时降至44.30%;中黑盲蝽卵的孵化率则由27℃处理的79.27%上升至30℃处理的87.90%,后逐渐下降至40℃处理的60.24%。在极端高温40℃的处理中,中黑盲蝽卵的孵化率显著高于绿盲蝽卵的孵化率,表明中黑盲蝽卵较绿盲蝽卵更耐极端高温。在30—40℃范围内,随着温度的升高,两种盲蝽若虫存活率降低,40℃处理后,绿盲蝽若虫存活率为零,中黑盲蝽若虫存活率为16.74%。同时,高温对绿盲蝽和中黑盲蝽的产卵量也存在显著影响。27℃处理下,绿盲蝽平均每头雌虫产卵量为64.78粒;30℃处理后,产卵量上升为70.03粒,后随处理温度升高产卵量开始下降,40℃时不能产卵;中黑盲蝽产卵量在27—36℃之间没有显着差异,平均每头雌虫产卵量为63—75粒,显著高于40℃处理的20.75粒。此外,短时高温暴露延长了绿盲蝽和中黑盲蝽的若虫历期,降低了绿盲蝽和中黑盲蝽雌雄成虫寿命。结果表明,短时高温对绿盲蝽和中黑盲蝽卵的孵化率、若虫存活率、生殖及成虫寿命等均有不利影响,温度越高,影响越大。绿盲蝽和中黑盲蝽在极端高温40℃处理下,中黑盲蝽耐热性明显高于绿盲蝽。两种盲蝽在极端高温条件下的耐热性不同,可能是导致它们在棉田内种群季节动态差异的一个重要因素。     

阿维菌素对南方小花蝽抑制烟蚜的影响

在室内分别测定了阿维菌素类杀虫剂1% 9512-1乳油和虫螨克对南方小花蝽Orius similis的毒力,研究了无阿维菌素介入后南方小花蝽对烟蚜Myzus persicae捕食效应所受的影响,结果表明：阿维菌素类杀虫剂对南方小花蝽具有一定毒力,不同虫态对阿维菌素的敏感性有差异,卵的敏感性明显低于若虫和成虫;不同的阿维菌素类药剂对南方小花蝽的毒力存在差异,9512-1对南方小花蝽卵、若虫及成虫的LC_５０依次为11.2743±3.8613、2.6584±1.2139、2.4508±1.3266 mg·L^-１,虫螨克则为10.8699±3.7653、6.4422±2.8596、6.4738±3.0124 mg·L^-１;阿维菌素显著降低了南方小花蝽对烟蚜的捕食量和捕食能力,也降低了同种个体间的竞争能力;阿维菌素对南方小花蝽若虫的发育速率有显著的抑制作用,但对发育速率与取食量的线性关系无明显影响,而且对存活个体成虫期的产卵量无显著影响。     

南方小花蝽对不同猎物捕食作用及利用效率

室内用棉蚜,花蓟马及棉花花粉饲养南方小花蝽,通过对南方小花蝽捕食两种猎物及取食棉花花粉后的体重的增长以及同时段内对棉蚜,花蓟马及棉花花粉减少的量的测定,得到南方小花蝽取食不同食物后的生长速率及其对食物的利用效率,同时还研究了南方小花蝽成虫和若虫对混合猎物（棉蚜,棉铃虫卵,红铃虫卵）中各猎物的捕食作用及其在多猎物（红铃虫卵,棉叶螨成螨,花蓟马若虫）不同密度水平下的捕食效应。结果表明,棉蚜与花蓟马可以较好地满足南方小花蝽正常生长发育所需的营养,南方小花蝽对两种猎物的利用效率显著高于棉花花粉,在混合猎物中南方小花蝽成虫和若虫均嗜食棉蚜,其次为红铃虫卵和棉铃虫卵;对于同一种猎物,南方小花蝽成虫和若虫在高密度下的日平均捕食量均显著高于低猎物密度下的日平均捕食量,而对于同一密度的不同猎物,南方小花蝽在低猎物密度时对供试的3种猎物无明显的选择性,在中,高密度时对供试的3种猎物则表现出明显的嗜食性差异。其嗜好程度依次为红铃虫卵,花蓟马若虫,棉叶螨成螨,通过研究有助于更好地了解与掌握南方小花蝽对不同食物的需求及其在田间的食物转换规律,从而更好地进行南方小花蝽的室内人工大量饲养,使南方小花蝽更好地成为棉田害虫种群综合治理中的重要组成部分并发挥其应有的作用。     

条赤须盲蝽形态特征与生物学特性

【目的】明确条赤须盲蝽Trigonotylus coelestialium各虫态的形态特征及其发育历期和成虫繁殖力等生物学特性,为条赤须盲蝽的预测预报及科学防治提供理论依据。【方法】在2021年9-10月郑州室内自然变温(22.0~28.1℃)和25℃恒温条件下,以玉米灌浆期籽粒为食料进行饲养,并观察、记录条赤须盲蝽个体各发育阶段的形态特征,测定其各虫态的发育历期、存活率、成虫寿命及雌成虫产卵量。【结果】条赤须盲蝽卵块产于玉米籽粒基部内颖内侧,卵粒长圆筒形,向一侧略弯。从1龄若虫开始触角呈现红色,随龄期增加红色逐渐明显,至5龄若虫时触角第1节出现3条清晰可见的红色纵纹。翅芽从3龄若虫开始明显可见。雌成虫产卵器长瓣状,平放于生殖节中部的沟槽内。室内自然变温下,条赤须盲蝽卵历期为6.27 d,卵孵化率为89.90%;1-5龄若虫历期分别为2.80, 2.33, 2.70, 2.77和3.90 d,若虫总历期为14.50 d,若虫总存活率为85.97%;雌成虫产卵前期为4.43 d,产卵持续期为13.93 d,单雌产卵19.47块,产卵量为82.55粒。25℃恒温下,条赤须盲蝽卵历期为7.73 d,卵孵化率为81.13%;1-5龄若虫历期分别为2.17, 1.90, 1.77, 1.90和2.93 d;若虫总历期为10.67 d,若虫总存活率为7184%;雌成虫产卵前期为4.17 d,产卵持续期为11.27 d,单雌产卵21.17块,产卵量为72.22粒。【结论】条赤须盲蝽的5龄若虫和成虫的触角第1节的形态特征可用于区分其与该属其他昆虫;其翅芽的发育特征可判别若虫龄期;变温能延长其若虫历期和成虫寿命,同时有利于提高雌成虫产卵量和卵孵化率。     

南方小花蝽液体人工饲料的饲养效果评价

为评价一种液体人工饲料的饲养效果,以棉蚜饲养南方小花蝽作对照,用液体人工饲料连续两代饲养南方小花蝽若虫和成虫,对南方小花蝽各生长阶段的生长和发育指标进行调查。结果显示：用人工饲料饲养的南方小花蝽若虫历期（22～23天）与对照组（21天）之间不存在显著差异,说明液体人工饲料可以很好的满足南方小花蝽若虫生长的营养要求。然而,用棉蚜饲养的对照组南方小花蝽成虫获得率可达到63%,而人工饲料组连续两代的成虫获得率分别仅为45% 和43%。取食人工饲料的南方小花蝽成虫,在产卵前期、产卵量及寿命方面与对照组都没有显著差异,仅在产卵期方面有着显著差异,人工饲料组小花蝽的产卵期为13～16天,而对照组小花蝽的产卵期可达20天,说明液体人工饲料也可以很好的满足南方小花蝽成虫生殖发育的营养要求。     

阿维菌素对南方小花蝽的毒杀作用

在室内条件下,研究了阿维菌素两种产品对南方小花蝽的毒杀效果.结果表明,两种产品对南方小花蝽不同虫态均有一定的毒杀作用.成虫、若虫对阿维菌素的敏感性基本相同,而卵的敏感性最低.阿维菌素对南方小花蝽除有直接的毒杀作用外,对其捕食能力也有一定影响.     

Use of commercial freezers to control cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), in organic garbanzo beans

One California processor of organic garbanzo beans (Cicer arietinum L.), unable to use chemical fumigants, relies on 30-d storage at -18 degrees C to disinfest product of the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (F). To determine whether the storage period may be shortened, the most cold-tolerant life stage of the cowpea weevil was identified. Laboratory studies showed that the egg stage was most tolerant to -18 degrees C and that adults were most susceptible. To examine the efficacy of cold storage disinfestation, bags of black-eyed peas, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp., infested with cowpea weevil eggs were buried within garbanzo bean bins placed in a commercial cold storage facility kept at approximately -18 degrees C and removed after 7, 14, and 21 d. Survival was highest in eggs located at the center of the bins and coincided with the slowest cooling rate. Although temperatures within the bins did not reach -18 degrees C until after 14-19 d, egg mortality was estimated to be >98% after just 7 d of exposure. Complete mortality of eggs occurred after 14 d of cold storage. A 2-wk treatment regimen may be sufficient for control of cowpea weevil in organic legumes.     

Effect of temperature on reproduction and embryonic development of the cabbage stem flea beetle,Psylliodes chrysocephala L., (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The cabbage stem flea beetle, Psylliodes chrysocephala (L.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is a major pest of winter oilseed rape. Despite the importance of this pest, detailed information on reproduction to predict risk of crop damage is lacking. This study investigates the effect of temperature on parameters of reproduction, egg development and viability at five constant temperatures. Significant temperature effects were found on the pre‐oviposition period, total number of eggs laid, daily oviposition rate, female longevity, egg‐development rate and viability. The mean length of the pre‐oviposition period ranged from 93.1 days at 4°C to 14.6 days at 20°C. Analysis of total number of eggs laid and daily oviposition rate during female lifespan estimated the highest total number of eggs laid (696 eggs/female) at 16°C and the highest oviposition rate (6.8 eggs/female and day) at 20°C. The daily oviposition rate at 20°C was not significantly higher than 5.4 eggs/female and day at 16°C. Female longevity was significantly longer at 4°C, shorter at 20°C and not significantly different between 8, 12 and 16°C. Estimated 50% survival time of females was 239, 153, 195, 186 and 78 days at 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20°C, respectively. A linear model of egg development at 8–20°C estimated the lower developmental threshold to be 5.1°C and the thermal constant for development 184.9 degree‐days. The percentage of eggs hatching was significantly lower at 4°C than at all other temperatures tested. The estimated mean hatching percentages were 47.3%, 70.0%, 72.4%, 66.2% and 67.9% at 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20°C, respectively. These results can be used to predict the start and intensity of egg‐laying in the autumn and the appearance of larvae in the field from knowledge about time of field invasion and from monitoring the weather.     

Geographical and seasonal gradients in hatching failure in Eastern Bluebirds Sialia sialis reinforce clutch size trends

Eggs untended during the laying phase can lose viability if exposed to high temperatures, such as those common at lower latitudes and late in the nesting season. The egg‐viability hypothesis states that constraints on viability during the laying phase could account for latitudinal and seasonal gradients in clutch size. We used 7 years’ worth of data collected by volunteers (The Birdhouse Network, co‐ordinated by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology) to look simultaneously at populations across the temperate breeding range of Eastern Bluebirds Sialia sialis in order to test three predictions of the egg‐viability hypothesis: the probability of hatching failure decreases at higher latitude and increases later in the season, and that these trends are strongest among large clutches. The overall average number of unhatched eggs relative to the total number of eggs laid was similar to that found by other studies (7.8%; range 6.8–8.9% annually; n = 32 567 eggs from 7231 nests from 530 study sites). Using generalized linear mixed models that controlled for the non‐independence of eggs within a clutch, we found that the ‘per‐egg’ probability of hatching failure was highest late in the season, highest at lower latitudes, and highest for both small (three‐egg) and large (six‐egg) clutches. The seasonal and geographical gradients in egg hatching failure reinforce documented seasonal and geographical trends in clutch size. Loss of egg viability prior to incubation currently provides the most parsimonious and consistent explanation of the observed patterns of hatching failure. However, alternative explanations for large‐scale patterns, particularly those not consistent with the egg‐viability hypothesis, warrant further research into other causes of hatching failure, such as microbes and infertility (related to extra‐pair mating). Our results demonstrate that investigating causes of variation in demography among local populations across a geographical gradient provides a potential means of identifying selection pressures on life‐history traits.     

诱导水稻抗褐飞虱的化学激发子筛选

【目的】化学激发子具有毒性低、不易产生抗药性等特点,因此开发基于化学激发子的害虫防控技术,能够降低农药的使用量,促进农业生产的可持续发展。本研究旨在筛选能够诱导水稻产生对褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens抗性的化学激发子。【方法】将茉莉酸(JA)、茉莉酸甲酯(MeJA)、水杨酸(SA)、水杨酸甲酯(MeSA)、油菜素内酯(BR)、苯甲酸苄酯(BB)、独脚金内酯(SLs)、萘乙酸(NAA)、吲哚丁酸(IBA)、草酸钠(SO)、硅酸钾(PS)和叶枯唑(Bis)12种化合物以根吸或叶鞘涂抹处理水稻,测定这些化合物处理水稻后褐飞虱的卵孵化率和24 h总产卵量。【结果】12种候选化合物中,仅茉莉酸甲酯、油菜素内酯和苯甲酸苄酯对褐飞虱卵孵化率和24 h总产卵量有显著影响。5 mg/L MeJA根吸处理水稻使褐飞虱的卵孵化率显著降低(达58.8%,降低了20.1%),而0.5 mg MeJA叶鞘涂抹处理水稻同时降低了褐飞虱的卵孵化率(达53.3%,降低了35.4%)和24 h总产卵量(达203.5粒/株,降低了15.6%),且其涂抹的浓度越高,褐飞虱的卵孵化率和24 h总产卵量越低。5 mg/L BR根吸处理水稻可以显著降低褐飞虱的卵孵化率(达59.5%,降低了22.1%),但是不影响褐飞虱的24 h总产卵量;褐飞虱的卵孵化率随BR处理浓度增高而降低,其浓度为20 mg/L时,褐飞虱的卵孵化率下降了41.8%。5 mg/L BB根吸处理水稻可以显著降低褐飞虱的24 h总产卵量(达100.3粒/株,降低了26.2%)。体外试验结果表明,MeJA和BR处理对褐飞虱卵孵化率无明显影响,说明两者对褐飞虱卵无直接毒害作用。【结论】化合物茉莉酸甲酯、油菜素内酯和苯甲酸苄酯可以提高水稻对褐飞虱的抗性,其中茉莉酸甲酯和油菜素内酯具有化学激发子的作用。     

The effect of egg size variability on thermoregulation of Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) offspring and its implications for survival

Summary There is a range of egg size phenotypes in Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) that has a large genetic component. It was hypothesized that egg size variation could play an important role in survival of newly hatched ducklings during their first few days out of the nest when they are most susceptible to thermal stress and starvation. Precocial young must be physiologically capable of maintaining homeothermy in order to spend adequate time foraging. Duckling size at hatching was highly correlated with egg mass, and those hatching from heavier eggs were able to maintain homeothermy at colder environmental temperatures than those from lighter eggs. Heavy ducklings had significantly lower mass-specific cooling rates, but lower critical temperature did not vary significantly among ducklings of different size. Although insulation and energy reserves were not proportionally greater in larger ducklings, those hatching from heavier eggs can survive starvation longer than those from lighter eggs. The relative cold tolerance of young from light and heavy eggs will affect the ratio of time spent foraging to time spent being brooded by the female parent. Although there is no direct evidence that selection is acting on egg size, variation in this trait within a population could be maintained by fluctuating environmental conditions at hatch.     

Comparison of cold tolerance in eggs of two cicadas, Cryptotympana facialis and Graptopsaltria nigrofuscata, in relation to climate warming

The population of the cicada Cryptotympana facialis began to increase in Osaka, Japan, during the late 20th century. Climate warming is considered a major cause, although the relationship between temperature and the cicada population increase remains unclear. By examining cold tolerance in overwintering eggs of C. facialis in relation to another cicada, Graptopsaltria nigrofuscata , whose population has recently decreased in Osaka, we tested the hypothesis that warming has caused the population increase of C. facialis by decreasing egg mortality due to winter temperatures. A short-term (24 h) cold exposure experiment demonstrated that the half-lethal temperatures (LT50) of C. facialis and G. nigrofuscata were −23.3°C and −28.9°C, respectively, although these extreme low temperatures never occurred in Osaka during the 20th century. Prolonged exposure to −5°C for up to 30 days had no harmful effects on the hatching rate in either species. Overwintering mortality was also assessed under naturally fluctuating conditions by transferring eggs to cooler elevated sites that mimicked the environment prior to the current warming. Eggs of C. facialis that overwintered at the cooler site exhibited similar hatching rates to those maintained at the original site. The results of these experiments consistently indicated that overwintering eggs of C. facialis possess adequate tolerance to the low temperatures of the 20th century. Therefore, we rejected our initial hypothesis that recent increases in the C. facialis population have been caused by warming-related reductions in overwintering egg mortality.     

The effect of desiccation and low temperature on the viability of eggs and emerging larvae of the tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini) (Ixodidae)

Process-based population models need sound and comprehensive data on an animal's response to climatic factors if they are to function reliably under a wide range of climatic conditions. To this end, different aged egg masses of the livestock tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, were either desiccated in atmospheres with saturation deficits of 5, 10, 15 or 20 mmHg at 20 or 26 degrees C, or chilled at temperatures of 5, 10 or 14 degrees C with a saturation deficit of 1 mmHg for varying periods. The survival rate of the eggs through to hatching was related to the initial age of the eggs, the severity of the treatments and the duration of exposure. We established a relationship between desiccation and weight loss of eggs and, secondarily between weight loss and mortality. Mortality increased with weight loss until it reached 100% when the weight loss was about 35%. Low temperatures were increasingly detrimental to eggs as they reduced from 14 to 5 degrees C. Freshly laid eggs were more susceptible to both low temperatures and desiccation than were older eggs. Larvae emerging from eggs that were stressed by either cold or desiccation lived for a shorter time under optimal conditions than did larvae from eggs incubated under optimal conditions. Larvae from eggs with the same hatching rate had the same viability, whether the stress was induced by desiccation or low temperatures. Models were developed to describe the dynamics of weight loss of eggs with desiccation, the accumulation of cold stress of the eggs, and their effects on egg survival and larval viability. These data provide a sound basis for the development of predictive models for use under field conditions, although the response of different aged eggs to low temperatures was too variable to allow us to develop an accurate model to describe that relationship. Field models will also need to take diurnal temperature fluctuations into account.     

Influence of Temperature on Multiplication and Egg Hatching of Longidorus africanus

Longidorus africanus multiplication on tomato was highest at 29 °C. Few nematodes were recovered after 6 weeks at soil temperatures of 35 °C or below 23 °C. The time to egg hatching was shortest and the percentage of eggs hatching was highest at 29 °C. The minimum temperature and the heat sum above this temperature required for egg development were calculated to be 14.3 °C and 94.08 degree-days, respectively. The thermal times required for egg development by L. africanus and L. elongatus were nearly identical. For both species the product of the base temperature and the heat sum was near constant, and at a temperature of 22.3 °C the rates of egg development were equal.     

Abiotic factors influencing embryonic development, egg hatching, and larval orientation in the reindeer warble fly, Hypoderma tarandi

Wild-caught, tethered females of the reindeer warble fly, Hypoderma tarandi (L.) (= Oedemagena tarandi (L.)), (Diptera, Oestridae) were stimulated to oviposit on hairs of a reindeer hide. Newly laid eggs incubated at constant temperatures and relative humidities hatched within 3 days to 2 weeks, depending on the experimental conditions. Over a range of 7-40 degrees C, hatching only occurred between 20 and 37 degrees C. Eggs held at 100% relative humidity had lower hatchability and longer time to hatch relative to eggs held at 77% relative humidity. The average number of degree-days for hatching was 50.35. Between 20 and 33 degrees C there was a temperature-dependent linear trend in developmental rate, and the proportion of eggs hatching was highest, and least variable, at the mid-temperature ranges. The temperature range found in the natural host micro-habitat where H. tarandi commonly affix their eggs (close to the skin at the base of a host hair) was consistent with the experimental temperature treatments that produced the highest hatching rate. Newly emerged larvae displayed positive thermotaxis, while showing no phototaxic or geotaxic behaviour. Results indicate that constraints of the host environment, coupled with temperature-dependent hatching success, may impose a selective pressure on oviposition behaviour.     

Changes in the reproductive biology of Biomphalara glabrata infected with different doses of Echinostoma paraensei miracidia

The egg-laying rate, number of egg masses, number of eggs/mass, number of eggs hatched/snail and egg viability of Biomphalaria glabrata exposed to different doses (5 and 50) of Echinostoma paraensei miracidia were analyzed as indicators of reproductive activity. Polystyrene plates were placed in aquariums containing the snails and every other day for four weeks after infection the plates were removed to count the number of egg masses and eggs laid. After this, the plates were numbered individually and placed in new aquariums free of snails and the egg masses were observed daily to determine the hatching rate. On average there was an increase in the parameters evaluated in the infected snails in relation to the controls (uninfected snails), except for egg viability, which was significantly lower in the groups infected with 50 miracidia. These findings indicate that when infected, this host snail is able to increase its reproductive activity, suggesting an ecological strategy to maintain the species.