Abstract: 【Aim】 Calliptamus italicus is a serious plague in arid and semiarid grasslands of Xinjiang. Previous studies claimed that its outbreak is closely related to climate warming in Xinjiang since 1980s. This research aimed to explore the effect of temperature increasing on the respiratory metabolism of C. italicus.【Methods】 We detected the respiratory rate, metabolic rate, CO₂ release rate, Q₁₀ (rangeability of the respiratory rate per 10℃ rising) and the respiratory quotient of C. italicus adults by using Sable Systems at different temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30 and 35℃). 【Results】 The respiratory rate, metabolic rate and CO₂ release rate of the locust all increased as the temperature went up, with the values at 15℃ significantly lower than at the other temperatures (P<0.01), but significantly higher at 35℃ (P<0.01), suggesting that both the conditions below 15℃ and over 35℃ have significant impacts on C. italicus. However, the respiratory rate, metabolic rate and CO₂ release rate measured between 20℃ and 30℃ were not significantly different (P>0.01), revealing that this temperature range is suitable for C. italicus development. The values of respiratory rate (Q₁₀) at different temperatures showed that C. italicus is sensitive to temperature change. The Q₁₀ value reached the maximum (2.42) when the temperature ranged from 25℃ to 35℃, and the minimum (1.03) from 20℃ to 30℃, suggesting that the temperature ranging from 20℃ to 30℃ is the optimal condition for C. italicus development. With an average of 0.9450, the respiratory quotient has no significant difference among different temperature treatments (P>0.01), suggesting that carbohydrates are consumed during respiration. 【Conclusion】 Temperature between 20℃ and 30℃ is suitable for growth and development of C. italicus, and the continuing warming would still make C. italicus as one of the important pests in Xinjiang grasslands.

Key words: Calliptamus italicus, respiratory metabolism, temperature, respiratory rate, metabolic rate, CO₂ release rate