Temperature-dependent development and oviposition models of Leptocorisa chinensis Dallas (Hemiptera: Alydidae)

Leptocorisa chinensis Dallas (Hemiptera: Alydidae) is known to cause pecky rice by sucking panicles of milk stage of rice. Based on its continuous spread and expanded damage area in Asian countries such as Japan with high reproduction potential, it is highly likely that L. chinensis will become an important rice pest in the near future. However, limited information is available to predict its distribution and occurrence. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop models for their development and oviposition. We investigated the development of L. chinensis immatures (from egg to adult) at 11 constant temperatures ranging from 16.2 to 35.3 °C and the oviposition of female adults at five constant temperatures ranging from 22.3 to 35.3 °C in this study. For L. chinensis immatures, the lower developmental threshold temperature, optimal developmental temperature, upper developmental threshold temperature were 12.7, 32.3, and 37.6 °C, respectively. The highest survival rate of immatures was observed at temperature of 25.2 °C and the highest mean total fecundity was 585.8 at 28.0 °C. This study provides basic information for the ecology of L. chinensis. It is applicable to forecast the phenology of its populations in the fields and to predict its future distribution under global warming.