Role of Constant and Fluctuating Temperatures in Determining Development Time and Fecundity of Three Species of Stored-Products Coleoptera2

Abstract

Development time of Tribolium castancum (Herbst) and Trogoderma iuclusum (LeConte) was reduced by about 9–12% when beetles were exposed to sinusoidal fluctuating temperatures with 10°C range and mean of 25°C rather than a constant 25°C. Sitophilus oryzae (L.) showed no significant difference in the effect of the 2 temperature conditions upon development time. During the 1st 14 days after emergence, the fecundity of T. castancum was apparently greater in fluctuating than in constant temperature; fecundity of T. inclusum and S. oryzae was not different in the 2 temperature regimens.