Effects of temperature on the post-diapause embryonic development and the hatching time in three grasshopper species (Orth., Acrididae)

A study was conducted to determine the effects of six constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40°C) on the post‐diapause embryonic development and the hatching time in three grasshopper species –Omocestus haemorrhoidalis (Charp.), Calliptamus abbreviatus Ikonn. and Chorthippus fallax (Zub.) – from the Inner Mongolian steppe. The results indicate that the species differ in the developmental rates, survival curves and cumulative hatching probabilities. The eggs of O. haemorrhoidalis had the fastest developmental rate with a low developmental threshold temperature of 9.9°C and the sum of effective temperature (SET) 211.2 degree‐days (DD). The corresponding values were 10.9°C and 210.6 DD for C. abbreviatus, 10.5°C and 240.2 DD for Ch. fallax respectively. The SET at which 50% of post‐diapause eggs hatched were 252.0 DD for O. haemorrhoidalis, 262.8 DD for C. abbreviatus, and 273.3 DD for Ch. fallax. The predicted maximal hatch ability of O. haemorrhoidalis (91.17%), C. abbreviatus (75.67%) and Ch. fallax (94.07%) occurred at 23.7, 29.0 and 31.3°C, respectively. The thermal death points of each species were reached at 43.3, 45.0 and 48.6°C. The optimal temperature ranges were 12.2–35.2°C for O. haemorrhoidalis, 21.7–36.3°C for C. abbreviatus and 20.9–41.7°C for Ch. fallax respectively. These results suggest that O. haemorrhoidalis adapt to hatch at a lower temperature range, C. abbreviatus adapt to mid‐temperature range, while Ch. fallax adapt to hatch at a higher temperature range. Although the SET of Ch. fallax is more than that of the other two species, it is not sufficient to explain the hatching sequence of the species in springtime. The results also indicate that Ch. fallax and O. haemorrhoidalis have wider adaptive temperature range than C. abbreviatus.