The effect of temperature on the egg incubation period and nymphal growth of two Nemoura species (Plecoptera) from subarctic fennoscandia

Field studies of Nemoura arctica and N. viki showed that the two species preferred different biotopes and indicated differences in their life‐cycles. N. arctica seemed to have a semivoltine life‐cycle, at least in some years, this was not the case for N. viki.

Laboratory studies showed that the temperature tolerance of the eggs of N. arctica was wider than for those of N. viki. The length of the egg incubation period of both species was influenced by the ambient temperature, but no significant interspecific difference existed between the regression lines of the relationship between the temperature (T°C) and egg incubation period (Y days), as given by the regression equation Y = aT^?b for the log values. Reared at constant food supply, nymphal growth occurred in two periods. Firstly a rapid growth to about 4 mm, followed by a period of slow growth until emergence. During the first period growth (G)at (D) days was linear, according to the simple linear regression equation G = a+bD . The temperature tolerance of the nymphs of N. arctica was wider than for those of N. viki and significant interspecific differences between the species in growth were recorded at relatively high rearing temperatures, such as 12° and 16°C, but not at low temperatures. At constant food supply, nymphal growth was greatly influenced by the rearing temperature. At a mean temperature of 16°C N. arctica nymphs grew rapidly and emerged after 120 days; whereas at a mean temperature of 4°C growt h was slow and the nymphs did not even manage to reach the emergence stage after 700 days.