Environmental Effects on the Development and Survival of the Scale Insect Abgrallaspis cyanophylli (Signoret) (Homoptera: Diaspididae) with Reference to its Suitability for Use as a Host for Rearing Biological Control Agents

Developmental and survival rates of the locally important diaspidid pest, Abgrallaspis cyanophylli (Signoret) reared on Solanum tuberosum L . tubers were examined under light and dark conditions; humidities of 33, 53, 62 and 75% relative humidity (RH); varying population densities; constant temperatures in the range of 20 to 30oC and at cycling temperatures of 12 h at 14°C and 12 h at 30°C. Developmental rate was slightly lower under constant light conditions but mortality was higher in the dark, particularly amongst the males. At 26°C, there were no differences in developmental rate in relation to the various humidity levels. However, survival was significantly lower at 33% RH, with females suffering higher mortality than males. Population density was found to have no effect on developmental rate or size of the females. Overall mortality increased in line with population density although the result was poorly correlated. Within the range 20-28°C developmental rate increased with rising temperature but decreased at 30°C. Thermal summation and polynomial regression data show a theoretical lower thermal threshold for development of 12.47°C. The thermal constant was 541.7 degree days. Survival was lowest at 20°C and 30°C and highest at temperatures in the median range and under cycling conditions. Male survival was significantly higher than that of the females at 30°C and under the cycling regime of 14/30°C. The results suggest that the optimum conditions for rearing A. cyanophylli on potatoes would be at temperatures in the range 24-26°C and humidities of 55-65% RH.     

Thermal sensations during simultaneous warming and cooling at theh forearm: A human psychophysical study

1. 1.The forearm of 5 female subjects ws thermally stimulated by 2 sets of interposed servo-thermodes that respectively drove skin temperature at ±0.1°C.s⁻¹ for 25 s and then held it constant. Mean skin temperature remained constant. The sequence was repeated at adapting temperatures between 22.5 and 37.5°C.

2. 2.Thermal sensations, continuously reported by the position of a dial, were warmer for heterogeneous thermal stimuli than for homogeneous stimuli when mean skin temperature was greater than 30°C and cooler when less than 27.5°C.

3. 3.This phenomenon is inconsistent with a single additive contribution of “warm” and “cold” information to thermal sensations.

INFLUENCE OF RELATIVE HUMIDITY ON SURVIVAL OF THE CITRUS LEAF-MINER, PHYLLOCNZSTZS CITRELLA STAINTON (LEPIDOPTERA: PHYLLOCNISTIDAE)

Abstract The relationshLps between relative humidity (RH) and survival rates of eggs, all larval stages and pupae of the citrus leaf-miner, Phyllooiistis citrella Stainton, were determined by laboratory experiments. The survival of the citrus leaf-miner was observed at seven levels of relative humidity from 35% RH to 95% RH at intervals of 10% RH, with 12 L: 12 D photoperiod and temperatiure (29±0.5) C. The relative humidity was controlled by saturated solutions of MgCl₂ 6H₂O, K₂CO₃ 2H₂O, C₆H₁₂O₆, NaNO₂, NaCl, KCl, and Pb(NO₃)₂. The results showed that lower relative humidity is unfavorable for incubation of the eggs, survival of the larvae and eclosion of the pupae. The survival rates increased generally with rising of relative humidity within the range of 35% - 85% RH, and the maximum survival rates occurred at 85% RH for different life stages. The variations in hatching rates of the eggs, survival rates of the larvae and emergence rates of the pupae were great, but unimodal at different relative humidity. The effect of relative humidity on survival rates of the citrus leaf-miner could be simulated by regression analysis, using a polynomial function of three orders, and the results of fitting the model to the observed data are presented and discussed.     

Exhalant air temperatures in the Virginia opossum

1. 1.Nasal exhalant air temperature in the adult Virginia opossum averages 20.9°C at ambient temperatures near 20.8°C (relative humidity: 47%) and 15.1°C at ambient temperatures near 9.2°C (RH: 78%). Exhalant air temperature is well below deep body temperature (34.5–35.6°C), indicating counterecurrent cooling of the exhalant air in the nasal passages.

2. 2.The extent of cooling of exhalant air is similar in juvenile (15-week-old) and adult opossums.

3. 3.As judged from exhalant air temperature, the effectiveness of countercurrent cooling is similar in the opossum to that seen in small and medium-sized placental mammals. The question is discussed of whether cooling of the exhalant air in these animals represents an adaptation or a physically inevitable, fortuitous effect.

The effects of constant and changing tempertures on the development of eggs of the freshwater snail Lymnaea auricularia (L.)

The rate of development of Lymnaea auricularia eggs was studied at various constant temperatures between 10° and 36°C. Development was accelerated as the temperature increased and at 36°C the eggs failed to develop. Spring eggs showed differences in their rate of development when compared with summer eggs when measured at similar tempertures.

Both spring and summer eggs were more than 90% fertile. Hatching success was high at temperatures between 10° and 30° (100%–82/9%); while at 34°C it was reduced to 60.6% for spring eggs. It was above 87% at temperatures between 10° and 34°C but it dropped to 62.3% at 36°C for summer eggs.

In one regularly changing temperature experiment a significant acceleration (P < .05) was found. In two others there was no significant difference beween predicted and observed egg durations. In one suddenly changing temperature regime (1 day at 20°, 1 day at 30° and so on) a huge retardation of development was found. In the other suddenly changing experiment (1 day at 15°, 1 day at 25°) no significant difference was found.

The exposure of eggs to extreme temperature (4°C, freezing and 4°C caused a retardation in the race of subsequent development of eggs at 25°C.     

不同温湿度组合对安徽虫瘟霉 诱发桃蚜病害的影响

用孢子浴方法,对42批次桃蚜Myzus persicae（30～60头/批）接种大剂量（孢子79～90个/ mm²）安徽虫瘟霉Zoophthora anhuiensis的分生孢子,在20℃下保湿24 h后转入不同温度（10℃、15℃、20℃、25℃、30℃及自然变温1.5～16.6℃和8.5～20.2℃）和湿度(50%、65%、80%、90%、95%及100% RH)的组合条件下观察桃蚜的反应。结果表明,各组合条件下的桃蚜均能发病死亡,而且累计死亡率的显著差异存在于不同温度（F=7.46, P<0.01)和湿度间（F=12.54, P<0.01）。最适发病的温度为恒温20℃和变温8.5～20.2℃（日均温12.4℃）,死亡率随湿度升高而增大。在10～25℃和100% RH的组合中,温度的变化几乎不影响桃蚜的累计死亡率,但影响发病速率,在10℃、15℃、20℃和25℃下的致死时间LT₅₀值分别为8.4 天、7.1 天 、4.0 天和3.4 天。回归分析表明, 在100% RH下安徽虫瘟霉诱发桃蚜发病的起始温度为1.65℃。在10～15℃及自然变温下,病死蚜尸顺利产孢的湿度为80% RH;而在20～30℃下,蚜尸产孢的湿度为90% RH。在所有温湿组合的蚜尸中未见安徽虫瘟霉的休眠孢子发生。     

Humidity selection by thermoregulating grasshoppers

1. 1.|To make the most effective use of evaporative cooling, an insect must be in an environment of the lowest humidity.

2. 2.|To test the hypothesis that, at temperatures requiring evaporative cooling, grasshoppers were able to select such a favourable environment, we observed the selection of, and time spent in dry (RH 5%) or humid (RH 97%) alternative chambers of a shuttle box at a range of temperatures from 28 to 50°C, in two species, Schistocerca americana and Romalea microptera.

3. 3.|Below 45°C, both species tended to remain in the chamber in which they began the trial; above 48°C, they all selected the arid chamber.

4. 4.|These findings suggest that grasshoppers can select the environment best for maintaining their body temperature below lethal levels but do not necessarily mean that they can actually sense relative humidity.

The influence of temperature on respiration of diapausing pupae of Pieris brassicae (Lepidoptera)

The respiration of diapausing Pieris pupae has been measured at different temperatures between 5 and 35°C in animals maintained at 20°C, either 14 or 74 days after larvo-pupal ecdysis or at 5°C for 30 or 60 days.

The sudden transfer of animals from 5 to 15, 20, 25, 30, 35°C or from 20 to 30, 35°C results in a respiratory overshoot whose characteristics (duration, height, extra-respiration) depend on experimental conditions.

After a certain period of acclimation, overshoots are eliminated. The respiratory rate except for animals maintained during 74 days at 20°C can then be represented as an exponential function of temperature.

The Q₁₀ values change according to the treatment given to pupae.

The respiratory rate of male pupae is higher than that of female ones.

The following points are discussed:

1. 1.|The meaning of overshoots is analysed according to economy and metabolic homeostasis, showing the existence of acclimation.

2. 2.|Exponential curves which are not relevant to non-diapausing pupae or to the diapausing ones taken at larvo-pupal molting are characteristic of steady metabolism. These curves can be interpreted as the result of the temperature effect on a master respiratory reaction which would then be rate limiting.

3. 3.|Wintering leads to gradual and slow adaptation to cold temperatures which brings both a respiratory increase, a decrease of the Q₁₀ and of the activation energy of the master reaction.

棉铃虫蛹期在极端湿度下的失水动态

研究了极端相对湿度 (0%、9%、22.5%、80%、90%和100%) 对棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera蛹期发育、存活和水分动态的影响。发育蛹在25℃下,相对湿度≤9%时, 不能羽化;湿度为22.5%时,羽化率不足20%; 高湿不影响它们的存活。在同样温度下,湿度≥9%时,滞育蛹在一个月内都极少死亡;在此期间,滞育终止率随湿度降低而升高。各湿度处理组发育蛹和滞育蛹从1日龄起的累计失水率都与其日龄呈线性相关。三个低湿处理组发育蛹中死亡个体在死亡前的平均累计失水率都在32%以上。滞育蛹经0%湿度处理一个月,平均仅失水22.4%;在湿度≥90%时的同期失水率不超过3.6%。在30℃下,发育蛹在4 h内测定的表皮渗透力最大,分别是9.0(♀)和10.7(♂) μg/(cm²·h·mm Hg); 滞育蛹的相应值出现在2 h内, 分别为 4.7(♀)和5.4(♂) μg/(cm²·h·mm Hg)。     

Development, survivorship, and reproduction of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under constant and alternating temperatures

Laboratory studies were conducted to assess the effect of temperature on the survival, development, fecundity, and longevity of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) at 11 constant temperatures ranging from 12.5 to 40 degrees C, as well as at five alternating temperature regimes (25-10, 30-15, 32.5-17.5, 35-20, and 35-27.5 degrees C) and under a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h. H. armigera reared at constant temperatures did not develop from egg to adult (emergence) outside the temperature range of 17.5-32.5 degrees C. The alternating conditions expanded this range from 10 to 35 degrees C. The lowest developmental thresholds of the immature stages were estimated by a linear model and ranged from 10.17 (pupal stage) to 11.95 degrees C (egg stage) at constant temperature regimes and from 1.1 to 5.5 degrees C, respectively at alternating temperatures. The values of developmental thresholds estimated using the nonlinear (Lactin-2) model were lower than those estimated by the linear model for constant and alternating temperature regimes except for larval and pupal stages at constant temperatures. Mean adult longevity fluctuated from 34.4 d at 15 degrees C to 7.6 d at 35 degrees C. Females reared under all alternating temperature regimes laid more eggs than females reared at any, except the 25 degrees C, constant temperature treatment. The intrinsic rate of increase was highest at 27.5 degrees C, at both the constant and the corresponding alternating temperature regimes (0.147 and 0.139, respectively). Extreme temperatures had a negative effect on life table parameters.     

蚁巢表层土壤温湿度对不同发育阶段红火蚁数量的影响(英文)

红火蚁一种攻击性非常强的外来入侵蚂蚁,可对入侵地的农业生产、生态系统、人体健康和公共安全等产生负面影响,温度和湿度是影响其生长和发育的重要环境因子.本研究评估了红火蚁蚁巢表层土壤温、湿度对红火蚁幼虫、有翅蚁蛹和有翅蚁成虫数量的影响.结果表明,随着土壤温度的升高,幼虫、有翅蚁蛹和有翅蚁成虫的数量都呈先升高后下降的趋势.当...     

Morphology and germination characteristics of the cysts of Chattonella ovata (Raphidophyceae), a novel red tide flagellate in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan

To elucidate the mechanism of bloom outbreaks of Chattonella ovata (Raphidophyceae), we investigated the cysts of C. ovata and succeeded in finding them from the bottom sediments of Hiroshima Bay. The morphology of the cysts was mostly hemispherical in shape, with a diameter of ca. 30 μm and height of ca. 20 μm. The cysts were usually adhering to solid materials, such as diatom frustules, yellow-greenish in color and had several dark brown grains. The cyst wall was smooth and had no ornamentation. Because the morphological characteristic of the cysts was in general agreement with those of Chattonella antiqua and Chattonella marina, it was difficult to differentiate the cysts of these three species. Germination of the cysts of C. ovata was observed at temperatures from 17.5 to 30 °C, but not at 15 °C or below. The number of the germinated cysts increased with increasing temperature and the optimum temperature for germination was 30 °C. Although cysts of C. antiqua and C. marina germinated at temperatures from 15 to 30 °C, optimum temperature of germination was 22.5 °C. The lower limit and optimum temperatures for germination of C. ovata cysts was higher than for C. antiqua and C. marina. The role of cysts in the population dynamics of C. ovata is discussed.     

Effects of Culture Age, Washing and Storage Conditions on Desiccation Tolerance of Colletotrichum truncatum Conidia

Colletotrichum truncatum conidia produced from a one week-old culture in a liquid semi-defined medium with a C:N ratio of 5:1 were more tolerant of desiccation than those harvested from two or three week-old cultures. Conidia washed with 20% (w/v) sucrose germinated better than unwashed conidia or those washed in 10% (w/v) sucrose, 10 and 20% (w/v) glucose or fructose, 0.1% (w/v) soluble starch, 0.9% (w/v) NaCl or deionized water. Washing with sucrose (20% w/v) also resulted in significantly longer germ tubes than those produced by unwashed conidia or conidia washed with deionized water or NaCl (0.9% w/v). Conidia washed twice in sucrose showed greater desiccation tolerance during storage at 15% relative humidity (RH) and 15°C than at 30% RH and 15 or 25°C or at 15% RH and 25, 5 or -10°C.     

Development rates of two Xenopsylla flea species in relation to air temperature and humidity

The rate of development of immature fleas, Xenopsylla conformis Wagner and Xenopsylla ramesis Rothschild (Siphonaptera: Xenopsyllidae) was studied in the laboratory at 25 degrees C and 28 degrees C with 40, 55, 75 and 92% relative humidity (RH). These fleas are separately associated with the host jird Meriones crassus Sundevall in different microhabitats of the Ramon erosion cirque, Negev Highlands, Israel. This study of basic climatic factors in relation to flea bionomics provides the basis for ecological investigations to interpret reasons for paratopic local distributions of these two species of congeneric fleas on the same host. Both air temperature and RH were positively correlated with duration of egg and larval stages in both species. Change of humidity between egg and larval environments did not affect duration of larval development at any temperature. At each temperature and RH, the eggs and larvae of X. ramesis did not differ between males and females in the duration of their development, whereas female eggs and larvae of X. conformis usually developed significantly faster than those of males. For both species, male pupae developed slower than female pupae at the same air temperature and RH. Air temperature, but not RH, affected the duration of pupal development. At each humidity, duration of the pupal stage was significantly longer at 25 degrees C than at 28 degrees C: 15.3+/-1.7 vs. 11.7+/-1.2 days in X. conformis; 14.1+/-2.0 vs. 11.5+/-1.7 days in X. ramesis, with a significantly shorter pupal period of the latter species at 25 degrees C. These limited interspecific bionomic contrasts in relation to basic climatic factors appear insufficient to explain the differential habitat distributions of X. conformis and X. ramesis.     

Developmental and reproductive biology of Scirtothrips perseae (Thysanoptera: Thripidae): a new avocado pest in California

The developmental and reproductive biology of a new avocado pest, Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara, was determined in the laboratory at five constant temperatures, 15, 20, 25, 27.5 and 30 degrees C. At 20 degrees C, S. perseae exhibited greatest larval to adult survivorship (41%), and mated females produced a greater proportion of female offspring at this temperature when compared to 15, 25, 27.5 and 30 degrees C. Average lifetime fecundity and preoviposition period was greatest at 15 degrees C at 39.6 eggs per female and 17.6 days, respectively. Jackknifed estimates of net reproduction (Ro), capacity for increase (rc), intrinsic rate of increase (rm), and finite rate of increase (lambda) were all significantly greater at 20 degrees C than corresponding values at 15, 25 and 27.5 degrees C. Population doubling time (Td) was significantly lower at 20 degrees C, indicating S. perseae populations can double 33-71% faster at this temperature in comparison to 15, 25 and 27.5 degrees C. Mean adult longevity decreased with increasing temperature, from a maximum of 52.4 days at 15 degrees C to a minimum of 2.4 days at 30 degrees C. Developmental rates increased linearly with increasing temperatures for eggs and rates were non-linear for development of first and second instar larvae, propupae, pupae, and for egg to adult development. Linear regression and fitting of the modified Logan model to developmental rate data for egg to adult development estimated that 344.8 day degrees were required above a minimum threshold of 6.9 degrees C to complete development. An upper developmental threshold was estimated at 37.6 degrees C with an optimal temperature of 30.5 degrees C for egg to adult development. Unmated females produced only male offspring confirming arrhenotoky in S. perseae.     

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.     

四纹豆象发育起点温度及有效积温

在 2 1～ 36℃范围内设置 6个温度对四纹豆象卵、幼虫、蛹的发育速率进行了测定 ,结果表明 :卵在 2 1～ 36℃、幼虫在 2 1～ 30℃和蛹在 2 1～ 33℃之间的发育速率与温度均呈直线关系 ;用直线回归法所得卵、幼虫、蛹的发育起点温度分别为 15.82 ,15.18,16 .0℃ ,有效积温分别为 6 2 .54,151.0 6 ,10 2 .76日度     

Temperature and the hygropreference of the Arctic Collembolan Onychiurus arcticus and mite Lauroppia translamellata

The hygropreference of adult Onychiurus arcticus (Tullberg) was investigated over 2 h at 0, 10 and 20°C, along humidity gradients (12–98% RH) established using different salt solutions. At all temperatures O. arcticus preferred the highest humidity (98% RH). At 0 and 20°C, saturated conditions were preferred to 98% RH. The hygropreference of the mite Lauroppia translamellata (Willmann) was also assessed at 20°C, and no clear RH preference was observed. This species survived the loss of 24.9 ± 2.1% of its initial water content when held for 24 h at 20°C and 12% RH. A range of assays designed to eliminate the influence of thigmotactic behaviour and population clumping permit exclusion of these factors as being responsible for the observed results. The mean initial water content of O. arcticus samples (71.7 ± 10.9, 73.4 ± 4.0 and 73.8 ± 23.5% at 0, 10 and 20°C, respectively) did not differ significantly between temperatures, indicating that the results were not influenced by differences in initial hydrated state. The percentage water loss of individuals within the gradient increased with temperature, and differed significantly between regimes. The ecological significance of the observed humidity preferences are discussed.     

Temperature-dependent development and survival of the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus

Abstract. Development, growth and survival of the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer), were determined at six constant temperatures. No egg hatch or larval development occurred at 17^oC. At temperatures of 20, 25, 30, 35 and 38^oC the median development times (days), respectively, were for eggs (13.4, 6.0, 4.4, 2.6 and 2.6), larvae (133.0, 46.0, 26.2, 22.4 and 23.9), pupae (17.0, 8.0, 5.5, 4.0 and 4.1), and from oviposition to adult emergence (164.4, 60.2, 37.9, 29.0 and 30.8). The Sharpe & DeMichele (1977) model was used to describe the temperature-dependent development. The mean egg survival (hatching) ranged from 61% to 86%, with lowest hatch at 20^oC. Survival of the larvae and pupae ranged from 32% to 73% and from 85% to 95%, respectively, with lowest survival at 20^oC. Pupae had significantly lower weights at 35^oC and adults at 38^oC than at the other temperatures. Female pupae (20 mg) and female adults (16 mg) were significantly heavier than male pupae (17 mg) and male adults (13 mg). Adults (0.5–9 months old) laid 4–7 eggs per female per day at 25^oC.     

Effect of temperature on developmental time and longevity of Psyttalia cosyrae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Psyttalia cosyrae (Wilkinson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a koinobiont, solitary larval-pupal parasitoid of Ceratitis cosyra (Walker) (Diptera: Tephritidae), and possibly other tephritid fruit flies. The effect of temperature on developmental time and longevity of this parasitoid was investigated and the thermal requirement at six constant temperatures (15±0.5, 20±0.5, 25±0.5, 27±0.5, 30±0.5, and 33±0.05°C) and 60-70% R.H was determined. The developmental rate increased with an increase in temperature. Females took a longer time to complete development than males at all temperatures tested. Development from egg to adult emergence required 244 degree-days (DD) above a thermal threshold of 11.9°C for both sexes pooled, 233 DD above 12.0°C for males and 256 DD above 11.6°C for females. Adult longevity was affected by temperature, and females lived longer than males at all temperatures tested.