The influence of temperature on development, longevity, and fecundity in the Rutherglen bug, Nysius vinitor (Hemiptera : Lygaeidae)

Abstract

The mean duration of the egg stage of N. vinitor at constant temperatures ranged from 36.8 days at 15C to 3.8 days at 32C and that of the nymphs from 45 days at 20C to 12.0 days at 32C. Within the range 20-35C egg and nymphal mortalities were low; temperatures of 12 or 40C were lethal to both eggs and nymphs. Mean nymphal development times for males and females were similar. The threshold temperature for egg development was 14.5C and that for nymphs 15C; 70 and 225 day-degrees were required for completing egg and nymphal development respectively. The immature stages developed more rapidly at fluctuating temperatures out of doors than they did indoors at constant temperatures equal to the mean of the fluctuating temperatures. Within the range of screen temperatures 21.5-23.0C the difference between mean development in shade and in sun was 9-10 days. Age-specific fecundity and mortality schedules were determined for N. vinitor at constant temperatures. Temperature and longevity were inversely related and males survived longer than females. Thus at 22OC mean longevity of males was 115 days and of females 90 days, as compared with 31 and 18 days respectively at 30°C. After a maturation period that was longer at lower temperatures, daily egg-laying per female decreased with age from a maximum that occurred before there was significant mortality of females. The rates of the cumulative egg-laying increased with temperature from 22 to 35C. Mean total number of eggs per female was significantly higher at 25 and 30°C than at 22 or 35°C. However, life-table calculations revealed that a temperature of 35°C yielded the maximum rate of population increase. Within the range 22-35C, temperatures and rc values were linearly related. Unmated females laid significantly fewer eggs than those that had mated, but survived longer.