›› 1993, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (4): 459-464.

• RESEARCH PAPERS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE ON OVIPOSITION AND LONGEVITY OF ADULT MEADOW MOTH (LOXOSTEGE STICTICALIS L.)

LUO LI-ZHI LI GUANG-BO   

  • Online:1993-11-20 Published:1993-11-20

Abstract: Adults of the meadow moth, Loxostege sticticalis L., transferred directly after emergence to the constant temperature of 16℃-34℃ were monitored for preovipo sition period, oviposition rate and period, fecundity and longevity. The relationship between temperature and preoviposition period fell into a logistic curve. All femalesobserved at 22℃ oviposited, but the number of ovipositing females decreased above this temperature. Oviposition period and fecundity at 22℃ were the longest and highest and significantly differed from those in other treatments except those at 19℃ and 25℃ According to the results obtained, 22℃ was considered as the optimum temperature for oviposition, and 16℃ and 34℃ as the lower and upper limits,respectively. Longevity of the adults was also affected by temperature. The longest longevity was at 16℃ (36.3 days) and shortest at 34℃(8.6 days). The relationship between temperature and adult longevity was significantly and negatively correlated, regardless of males or females. However, males were more sensitive than females to thechange of temperature by checking the correlation coefficients (for males r=-0.91,P < 0.01 and females r=-0.76, P < 0.05). In addition, males lived longer than females at 16℃-28℃ and significantly differed at 16℃-22℃(P < 0.05), but shorter than females at 31℃-34℃ and significantly differed at 34℃. Based on aboveresults, patterns of population dynamics of the meadow moth in the major damageareas of China and principles of its forecast are discussed.

Key words: Meadow moth——temperature——oviposition——longevity