Day length and evening temperature predict circannual variation in activity duration of the colony of the Indian cliff swallow,Hirundo fluvicola

In avian species, circannual rhythms, in a number of biological variables, including locomotor activity, have been studied under both laboratory and natural environmental conditions. However, information on circannual rhythm in daily activity duration of Indian cliff swallow (Hirundo fluvicola) is not available. It is a communal mud nesting, non-migratory species and inhabits low under arch bridges. Although it figures in the IUCN Red List under the least concerned category, it is important to study its behavioral ecology that may be of utmost importance from conservation stand point. In the present investigation, we examined the circannual rhythm in daily activity duration in this species at a communal roosting site under Kharoon river bridge on the Raipur–Bhilai highway (21°15′07.54′′N; 81°32′30.65′′E), Raipur, India, for eight consecutive days, every month from August 2009 to October 2011. On each study day, observations were made in two sessions, morning and evening. We monitored and recorded emergence time of the first bird from the nest in the morning and entry time of the last bird to the nest in the evening. We also recorded the ambient temperature and humidity of the study site simultaneously. Average daily activity duration (the time difference between the first bird’s emergence time and the last bird’s entry time from/to the nest, respectively) was computed for each month. A significant circannual rhythm in activity duration was validated. The peak of activity rhythm occurred on 22nd June with a spread between 19th June and 25th June. The activity duration was the shortest in winter and the longest in summer. The daily activity duration was positively correlated to the day length, sunset time, and morning and evening temperatures; whereas negatively correlated with the sunrise time, and morning and evening humidity. The multiple linear regression models suggest that day length alone explains 96% of the total variance in activity duration, whereas only 0.5% variance was attributable to evening temperature. We conclude that the day length is the strongest predictor of circannual variation in daily activity duration of the colony of Indian cliff swallow; whereas the evening temperature has very little effect. Further, we recommend that comparable studies under natural conditions might be very helpful to explore the effect of environmental cues on other intriguing behavioral decisions made by this and other avian species.     

Survival rates of immature Ixodes pacificus (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks estimated using field‐placed enclosures

Granulocytic anaplasmosis (GA) and Lyme borreliosis are emerging tick‐borne diseases caused by infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi, respectively, and maintained in rodent‐Ixodes spp. tick cycles, including I. pacificus in the western U.S. Ixodes pacificus has a multiple‐year life cycle and B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum are transstadially, but not transovarially, transmitted within ticks, thus ticks function importantly in maintaining infection in nature. In this study, the survival of larval and nymphal I. pacificus was determined using ticks placed in tubes in leaf litter from June 2005 to September 2006 at two field sites in the California northern coast range mountains and a laboratory control. In all three sites, nymphal and larval survival ranged from 90–400 d, with differences in mean survival among sites. Fewer ticks died in the autumn in the moister field sites compared with the drier incubator control treatment. The first large die‐off event in late autumn occurred at all sites shortly before relative humidity increased from 80–100% and temperature declined from approximately 22–15° C. The concurrent die‐off in the incubator population, subject to relative humidity and temperature regimes that were invariant, suggests that survival time was dependent on other factors in addition to environmental conditions. These results suggested that many ticks exhausted resources or tolerance for relatively low humidity within six months of questing, and that higher humidity prolonged survival. Based on observed longevity, humans and other animals could acquire A. phagocytophilum infection from adult I. pacificus that were infected up to three years earlier.     

Monitoring the diel activity of Ixodes ricinus ticks in Hungary over three seasons

Ixodes ricinus is the most common tick species in Europe and vector of many diseases of humans. The risk of contracting such a disease is influenced by many factors, but one of the crucial points is questing activity of unfed ticks. In order to supplement the few literature data on patterns of diel activity of this tick species and to examine the correlations between data on diel activity of ticks and their small mammal hosts and some meteorological variables, a survey was performed. Diel activity of questing I. ricinus and small rodents was studied in a known natural tick-borne encephalitis virus focus over 7 months at one sampling day monthly. 1,063 I. ricinus ticks and 25 rodents were sampled. Air temperature and humidity data were also recorded in the 24 study plots at time of sampling. From April to October questing activity of nymphs increased in the 3-h-period after sunrise, comparing to activity of the 3 h before sunrise. Proportion of nymphs sampled 3 h after sunset compared to total sampled nymphs 3 h before and 3 h after sunset showed correlation to activity of rodents. In the period of April–July both nymphs and larvae showed stronger activity from sunrise to sunset, this turned to dominant nighttime activity in August–September, whereas activity changed to equal in day and night in October. Our results indicate that natural light and rodent population have positive effect on questing activity of I. ricinus.     

Epidemiology and prediction of brown leaf rust of mulberry caused by Peridiopsora mori

Brown leaf rust (BLR) caused by Peridiopsora mori is one of the major foliar diseases of mulberry (Morus sp.) in the subtropical hills of eastern India. The disease appeared in first week of August and continued up to September with maximum severity in second and third week of September. The disease symptoms appeared at atmospheric temperature (27.00–20.07°C), relative humidity (92.14–82.43%), rainfall (11.20 cm) and rainy days (7) of the preceding week. Disease severity (>50 PDI) was observed at temperature (26.29–19.29°C), relative humidity (94.14–80.14%), rainfall (4.12 cm) and number of rainy days (2–3 days). Apparent rate of infection was found high at temperature (27.00–19.83°C), relative humidity (94.67–85.00%), rainfall (4.6 cm) and rainy days (2) of the preceding week. The correlation coefficient between disease severity and average meteorological factors of the preceding 7 days revealed that BLR disease severity showed significant negative correlation with minimum temperature. It was also revealed that contribution of maximum and minimum temperature 42.23% and 35.21%, maximum and minimum relative humidity (RH) 11.23% and 10.69% and rainfall and number of rainy days 0.11% and 0.50%, respectively towards development of BLR disease severity. Multiple regression analysis revealed that average of maximum and minimum temperatures and minimum RH of preceding 7 days were found to maximally influence BLR disease severity.     

祁连山东段高原鼢鼠暖季活动节律及其影响因素

正动物活动节律是在光周期、外界环境和内在生理机制共同调节下,动物表现出的休息和活动规律,它可以反映出动物个体营养状况、生存压力及社会地位等信息,是研究动物生态行为策略的重要依据(孙儒泳,2006)。尚玉昌(2006)认为温度和光照强度变化直接影响动物行为,而食物资源和天敌数量变化则能间接影响动物行为。目前对于地上栖息的啮齿动物活动节律及其影响因素已有许多报道(金建丽等,2003;纪春艳等,2005;宛新荣     

Experimental study of indoor and outdoor airborne bacterial concentrations in Tempe, Arizona, USA

Indoor and outdoor airborne bacterialconcentrations were examined in an occupiedoffice building equipped with an airconditioning (HVAC) system, in Tempe, Arizona,USA. A two-stage microbial air sampler wasused to collect bacteria both inside andoutside the office at fixed locations in space,and at regular time intervals from August toDecember, 2000. Simultaneous measurement ofbacterial concentrations, temperature, relativehumidity, light intensity and wind speed wereperformed to explore the effects ofenvironmental factors on bacteria levels. Tengenera and twenty species of airborne bacteriawere found in our samples. AirborneGram-positive bacteria were most abundant, withmore than 90% of the measured population. Theparticle sizes of most outdoor and indoorairborne bacterial aerosols were larger than8.0 μm. According to the measurements ofeither a typical day or three consecutive days,the concentrations of outdoor airborne bacteriawere highest in the morning, but declined inthe afternoon and reached the lowest point inthe evening. With regard to the effects offour environmental factors – temperature,relative humidity, light intensity, and windspeed, the relative humidity had the mostpronounced influence on the outdoor bacterialconcentration, with the number of bacteriaincreasing sharply on a day of high relativehumidity.     

Influence of temperature and relative humidity on the moulting success of Amblyomma limbatum and Aponomma hydrosauri (Acari: Ixodidae) larvae and nymphs

This study compared the duration of the moulting periods of engorged larvae and nymphs of the ixodid ticks, Amblyomma limbatum and Aponomma hydrosauri, at different temperature/relative humidity regimes, and examined the relationships between the engorged weight of ticks and their weights after moulting. The results showed that for each species, there was a significant relationship between the weights of unfed nymphs and engorged larvae, and the weights of unfed adults and engorged nymphs. The weight of engorged nymphs was also a good indicator of their sex, with female ticks having heavier weights as engorged nymphs. Temperature and relative humidity had a marked effect on the moulting success of engorged ticks of both species. Aponomma hydrosauri larvae and nymphs were able to moult at lower temperatures than Amb. limbatum but most ticks, except Ap. hydrosauri larvae, failed to moult at 13 degrees C. Additionally, there was a marked decrease in the pre-moult times of ticks at higher temperatures, with larvae taking less time to moult than nymphs. At temperatures greater than 21 degrees C, Amb. limbatum took less time to moult than Ap. hydrosauri but this interspecific difference was less marked for nymphs. The interspecific differences in the responses of engorged larvae and nymphs to different temperatures and relative humidities correlated with interspecific differences in off-host behaviour and with the different climates the two species experience throughout most of their distributional range.     

飞虱虫疠霉继发性感染对桃蚜数量增长的控制作用

用飞虱虫疠霉（Pandora delphaics)“孢子浴”接种的桃蚜(Myzus persicae)无翅成蚜在离体甘蓝菜叶片（65cm^2)上建立蚜群,在不同温度（10－30℃）和湿度（74％－100％RH）的组合条件下任其繁衍,发病和交互感染,以评价该菌的控蚜效果。在25个温,湿度组合处理（8次重复,每重复含3头接种成蚜)中,蚜群均不同程度的发病死亡,在历时30d的观察中,以高温（20－30℃）,高湿（95％RH）组合条件下的蚜群发病快且死亡率高,蚜尸上产生的孢子有效地引起若蚜继发性感染。与相同温度下不带菌的对照蚜群相比,次于30℃下,各湿度除个别例外,第8d的控蚜率达30％以上,第20d达80％以上。在10℃和15℃下,控蚜效果一般不如上述较高温度下,且与湿度的关联程度相对较低,但最大控蚜效果均发生在100％RH处理中。结果表明,飞虱虫疠霉用于蚜虫防治的潜力很大,值得深入研究和开发利用。     

Seasonal distribution and species composition of daytime biting mosquitoes

Adults and immatures of Aedes mosquito populations were collected at temperatures between 40 and 44°C (summer), while larvae were collected at 0°C (winter). Major mosquito activities were observed from February to mid-December at various collection sites that yielded high populations of Aedes spp. from May to September, and high populations of Culex spp. and Anopheles spp. from March to September. In June to July, mosquito activity was suspended because the relative humidity was high (70%); a result of the monsoon rains. In August, with temperature ranging from 38 to 42°C, the populations of Culex , Anopheles and Aedes began to increase (36.8, 32.1 and 26.3%, respectively). Population estimates (through standard prototype Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Biogents (BG)-sentinel) and species composition of Aedes in forest habitats indicated a rapid increase in the populations of Ae. albopictus (52.3%), Ae. aegypti (19.1%) and Ae. vittatus (28.5%) following the rainy season in July. Areas positive for Ae. albopictus had identical population levels and distribution ranges of Ae. vittatus , however, there were no Ae. aegypti in Ae. albopictus areas from August to September. The population level, seasonal distribution, habitat and areas of adult activity marked by global positioning system (GPS) coordinates are being used for reference and for species composition data of Anopheles spp. (2), Culex spp. (10) and Aedes spp. (5) in addition to associated temperature, relative humidity and physico-chemical factors of larval habitat. Global meteorological changes have caused an expansion of the active period, leading to the mosquito's possibility of being a vector of disease increasing, resulting in the spread of dengue fever.     

伏翼的季节性活动与温度及光等环境因子的关系

伏翼(Pipistrellus abramus Temminck)为夜行性食虫小蝙蝠类,广布于我国南北和邻近国家,常成小群栖息于城市近郊或小城镇房屋的瓦盖下及屋檐下空隙中。这种蝙蝠在许多地区都有冬眠现象。过去对其季节活动与环境因子关系缺少完整的研究。为此作者于1965-67,1977-79及1981年在上海郊区作了初步观察。结果表明伏翼在不同季节中,其飞出搜食活动具有明显的规律性变化。这种变化同环境因子,特别是温度和光等因子有密切关系。     

Seasonal Adreno-Cortical Cycle of a Nocturnal Bird,Indian Spotted Owlet Athene brama: Biochemical and Morphological Observations

It is well reported that the environmental factors along with different endocrine stimulus play a crucial role in maintenance of adrenocortical activity in birds. This study is first to report a detailed seasonal activity cycle of adrenal cortex, particu-larly its secretory physiology in a tropical nocturnal bird, Indian spotted owlet Athene brama. The maximum cortical activity having highest glandular mass, glandular free cholesterol, esterified cholesterol profiles, and peak level of corticosterone in plasma coincided with the long day length, highest temperature and increasing amplitude of relative humidity and rainfall of the early summer month, May. Cortical activity declined to minimum level in August when the ecofactors also declined parallely and hence, the birds entered into partial hibernation. The cortical activity progressed slowly throughout the winter (September–March) to reach maximum level in May. Further, the electron microscopic observations of cortical cell morphology strongly supported the above seasonal activity status of the gland revealing a comparatively large number of mitochondria during May than August, along with lipid filled vacuoles during May but not in August. Besides, assessment of gonadal and pineal hormones in relation with seasonal activity of adrenal cortex presented a parallel relationship with gonad while completely inverse relationship with pineal. Therefore, the study concludes that the seasonal adrenocortical activity of this tropical nocturnal bird might be regulated by multiple factors, particularly by the environmental temperature, humidity/rainfall and photoperiod along with the internal factors at least by gonadal and pineal hormones.     

Meteorological factors affecting beginning and end of foraging activities of Camponotus maculatus aegyptiacus emery (HYM., formicidae)

Summary It is to be concluded that the nocturnal ant C. maculatus aegyptiacus Emery starts foraging with the sun-set and its field activities are stopped with the sun-rise. The level of foraging activity showed two peaks at 1–3 hours after evening start and before morning stop.The differences in temperature and relative humidity at evening initiation and morning cessation of foraging activities suggest that both temperature and relative humidity have a marked effect on the evening start and morning stop of field activities.Although the atmospheric pressure, wind velocity and dew may have affected the rate of trail activity they appeared to have, within the ranges obtained, a very slight influence upon the evening start or morning stop of foraging activity.Cloud cover is not involved in the evening initiation or morning cessation of trail activity since it happened that the sky was almost always very clear at both evenings and mornings of all the nights of investigation from May to October but, the probability that the rate of nocturnal foraging activity of C. maculatus aegyptiacus might be affected by the cloud cover through the reduction of the moonlight exists. It is hoped to examine this in more detail at a later date.Zur Zeit: Zoologisches Institüt, 8 München 2, Luisenstraße 14.     

Influence of long-term exposure to an air-conditioned environment on the diurnal cortisol rhythm

In the present study, the influence of the long-term use of air-conditioning in summer on the cortisol rhythm was examined by measuring the rhythm in subjects who had been exposed to air-conditioning for a short [S] or long [L] time. Investigations were conducted twice in July and September. Atmospheric temperature and relative humidity near the subjects were measured for three days in each season. Saliva samples for cortisol analysis were collected every 2 hours during the daytime beginning at 8:00 h with subsequent sampling times at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:00 and 22:00 h. A questionnaire on sleep and duration of air-conditioning use was also undertaken. Ambient mean temperature was higher in the S group (mean+/-SD; 30.8+/-1.2 degrees C in July, 28.0+/-0.8 degrees C in September) than in the L group (28.0+/-1.2 degrees C in July, 27.3+/-1.0 degrees C in September) (p<0.01), while mean relative humidity did not differ. There were no differences in bedtime, waking time and sleeping hours either between groups or months. Diurnal patterns of salivary cortisol rhythm in July and September were similar in the S group, but the L group had a delayed rise of morning cortisol secretion in September compared with July. These results suggest that long-term exposure to an air-conditioned environment might adversely affect the human cortisol rhythm.     

Factors affecting the activity of alatae of the aphids Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and Brevicoryne brassicae (L.)

Apparatus was designed for testing the frequency of flights of aphids under different conditions of temperature, relative humidity, light and pressure. Young aphids (1–4 days after metamorphosis) flew more often and showed less individual variability than older ones; with all ages activity increased for the first few hours under experimental conditions. Starving increased activity for the first 1–2 hr. Aphids used in experiments on a second day flew less frequently than controls which had remained on the plant the first day. Alate B. brassicae were more active than M. persicae : both species showed alternating periods of activity and quiescence.
At light intensities between 100 and 1000 f.c. there was little difference in flight frequency, but below 100 f.c. activity declined rapidly and apparently ceased with darkness.
Changes in relative humidity temporarily affected flight frequency, a change to a higher humidity retarding, a change to a lower increasing it. After adjusting to the change aphids flew readily at all humidities tested between 50 and 100% with temperatures below 80° F. (26.7°C.). The combination of high humidity and high temperature (90°F. = 32·2°C.) sometimes inhibited flight.
Changes of pressure often increased activity temporarily and flight frequency was greater under fluctuating pressure than under constant pressure.
It is concluded that changes in microclimate in crops are adequate to influence frequency of flight of aphids and consequently the spread of virus diseases.     

The control of circadian activity rhythms in tsetse flies: environment or physiological clock?

ABSTRACT. The typical V-shaped pattern of biting activity that Glossina morsitans show in nature has been assumed to be due to environmental control (especially by temperature), but is now known also to be under control from an endogenous circadian clock. The relative importance of these two components was investigated (a) under constant conditions in actographs, and (b) by a re-analysis of published field data. The actograph study reveals: (1) the length of flight bursts is the same at all phases of the rhythm; (2) the shape of the circadian V-pattern changes with its amplitude, so that the less active a fly is, the more of its activity it performs in the morning; (3) both arms of the V respond to dawn as their principal zeitgeber; (4) high (35°C) and low (19°C) constant temperature reduce spontaneous activity level by c. 80%, and depress the evening arm of the V disproportionately. The analysis of the field data reveals: (1) the V occurs in nature independently of temperature; (2) biting activity is correlated positively with temperature in the morning and evening, but negatively through the middle of the day; (3) light directly influences the daily rhythm mainly by its effects at low intensity (the 'photonegative reaction' being a response to high temperature); (4) humidity has little influence on activity level. It is concluded that roughly 80% of the amplitude of the V-pattern in the field is due to endogenous circadian control, and only 20% to direct control by temperature.     

Effects of fluctuating moisture and temperature regimes on the infection potential of Beauveria bassiana for Rhodnius prolixus

The effect of both moisture and temperature on the infective potential of Beauveria bassiana to the Chagas' disease vector, Rhodnius prolixus, was studied under fluctuating regimes. At constant 25 degrees C, contaminated first-instar nymphs exposed to increasing daily periods of initial exposure to 97% RH, followed by transfer to reduced humidity (43, 53, 75, and 86% RH), showed a significant reduction in mortality when the 97% RH exposure time declined from 12 to 8 h per day. The duration of disease incubation depended on the daily 97% RH exposure time. Under fluctuating regimes of both humidity (97% RH versus 75% RH) and temperature (15/28, 20/25, 25/28, and 25/35 degrees C), first-instar mortality was affected by weather conditions, daily 97% RH exposure time (8, 12, and 16 h per day), and number of temperature and humidity fluctuations before transferring tested insects to constant unfavorable conditions. In most cases, at 12/12 h alternating cycles, high and rapid mortality required five cycles. Under these fluctuating regimes, fungus-induced mortality and mortality time were similarly affected in third- and fifth-instar nymphs by the daily 97% RH exposure time. Despite a lower susceptibility of older larval stages, mortality rates in insects exposed for at least 12 h per day at 97% RH remained very high except at 15 degrees C. Moisture and temperature regimes at 12/12 h cycling significantly affected the dose-mortality response in first-instar nymphs. The most favorable conditions consisted of 97%-20 degrees C combined with either 75%-25 degrees C or 43%-25 degrees C. Under less favorable alternating conditions (lower and higher temperatures) the amounts of inoculum required for killing 50% of first-instar nymphs were 10 or 20 times higher. From a vector control standpoint, daily high humidity appears to be the most crucial climatic constraint. B. bassiana has the potential to control R. prolixus populations with applications made during the rainy seasons when humidity is high.     

The effects of temperature and humidity on the nocturnal activity of different shell colour morphs of the land snail Arianta arbustorum

The noctural activities of the phenotypic shell colour morphy and age classes (adults and juveniles) of Arianta arbustorum were recorded 1 day week^-1 for 4 weeks in several laboratory microclimatic conditions. Six constant temperatures between 3 and 18C and four levels of relative humidities between 34 and 98% were maintained. A light regime of 16 h light: 8 h dark was used. There are highly significant differences in activity at different levels of adaptation temperature and relative humidity. The interaction between these factors is significant. There are no significant differences in nocturnal activity between the two phenotypic shell colours nor between the two age classes, but the interaction between morph and relative humidity is significant. The interaction between age classes and relative humidity is also significant. Yellows are more active than browns at high humidities, but less active at low. They are therefore likely to be behaviourally more responsive than browns in an environment of fluctuating humidities. This result is discussed in relation to the maintenance of the polymorphism.     

The impact of a small lake on heat stress in a Mediterranean urban park: the case of Tel Aviv,Israel

Field observations of air and surface temperatures, relative humidity, solar radiation and wind were performed in the daytime hours of the warm season around a pond of 4 ha, located in Begin Park, in the city of Tel Aviv, Israel. Observations were carried out at screened meteorological stations on four randomly selected days, all associated with moderate heat stress. Two of them, one representing a warm and dry day, and other, representing a sultry day, are analyzed in detail. At the downwind side of the pond, lower temperatures, a higher relative humidity and a lower heat stress index were observed consistently when compared with stations located upwind of the pond. This effect is regarded here as the "lake effect". The fact that no significant change was noted in the water vapor pressure during most of the daytime hours indicates that the lake effect was related mainly to cooling rather than to moisture transport from the pond. A positive relationship was found between the lake effect and wind speed in both types of weather. The maximum effect of the wind's speed on the lake effect was observed at midday, at which time the temperature drop reached 1.6 degrees C, while the relative humidity rose by 6%. As a result, the heat stress index dropped by 0.8-1.1 degrees C. It is suggested that the temperature drop induced by the pond during the warmest hours of the day was mainly the result of a truncation of the sensible heat flux from the underlying surface when the air, which had previously passed over hot surfaces, swept over the relatively cool water. During the late afternoon and evening hours, when the water became warmer than the surrounding surfaces, latent heat cooling resulting from evaporation became the dominant source of the lake effect, and the lake effect resulted in increasing heat stress. It is concluded that even small bodies of water have a relieving effect on humans in the daytime hours, within the range of 40 m, under both dry and humid hot weather conditions.     

Infection rate of Babesia spp. sporokinetes in engorged Boophilus microplus from an area of enzootic stability in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil

The infection rates of Babesia sporokinetes in engorged Boophilus microplus were evaluated during a 2-year period in a dairy farm located in an area of enzootic stability. Every 14 days engorged females were collected from calves and from adult animals. Ticks were incubated at 27 +/- 0.5 degree C and 80-90% relative humidity and Babesia infection rates were determined by microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained hemolymph smears. After 52 collections, 2105 ticks were obtained, from which 982 were collected from calves and 1123 from cows. The total Babesia infection rate was 10%, however the incidence was higher (p < 0.05) in ticks collected from calves (17.5%) than in those collected from cows (3.6%). Females collected from cows showed the highest infection rates in January, March, and August, and absence of infection in April and May. Ticks feeding on calves were infected throughout the experimental period. The infection rates of engorged females collected from naturally infected calves that were artificially infested with Babesia-free-larvae of B. microplus gradually decreased until the calves were four months old. No differences were observed among infection rates of ticks collected from calves maintained under natural conditions.     

温、湿度对亚洲玉米螟成虫繁殖力及寿命的影响

温度和湿度的变化对亚洲玉米螟0strinia furnacalis(Guenee)成虫的交配和产卵及寿命都具有极显著的影响。在16℃～32℃和RH20%～100%的温湿范围中,亚洲玉米螟成虫繁殖力在20℃～28℃恒温和RH70%～100%的温湿组合中较大,其中在24℃恒温和28℃～20℃变温与RH90%～100%的组合中为最大,在32℃和RH20%的组合中为最小。单雌抱卵量、产卵量和产出卵率及交配次数均与温度呈抛物线曲线关系,与湿度呈正相关。温、湿度对成虫繁殖力具有极显著的交互作用。成虫寿命与温湿度密切相关,温度越高,成虫寿命越短;而湿度越高,成虫寿命越长。但雄蛾比雌蛾较耐低湿,在16℃～24℃下雄蛾寿命比雌蛾较长。此外,雄蛾较强的交配能力可促进卵的发育和产出。以上结果对玉米螟种群动态消长的分析和预测预报提供了参考依据。