Development of the powderpost beetle (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) at constant temperatures

Abstract

Development of Dinoderus minutus was studied under laboratory conditions at five constant temperatures (15,18, 25, 28, and 30°C) to estimate developmental thresholds and thermal requirements of the egg, larva, pupa, and egg-to-adult stages. Adults began to burrow along the grain into bamboo pieces within 24 h after cutting and continued across the grain. Female beetle oviposited an average of 9.1 eggs in the ensuing 24 h, all in the metaxylem. The average period for development of eggs, larva, and pupa were 5.4,43.8, and 4.6 d at 30°C, respectively. The development rate data were regressed through the x-axis to derive the thermal constants of 4.3, 6.8, and 4.5°C and thermal requirements of 113.6,909.1, and 96.2 DD to predict D. minutus egg oviposition to hatch, larva-to-pupa development, and adult emergence from pupa, respectively. The thermal threshold for egg-to-adult development was 6.4°C, with total thermal requirements of 1,111.1 DD. Oviposition, emergence, and thermal requirements for development of the various stages of D. minutus may be used for postharvest pest management of bamboo. © 2009 Entomological Society of America.