Influence of temperature on adult longevity, oviposition and fertility of agasicles hygrophila selman & vogt (coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Abstract

Agasicles hygrophila, a leaf feeding Chrysomelid beetle, was introduced into New Zealand in 1982 for the biological control of alligator weed, Alternanthera philoxeroides. Laboratory studies showed that egg laying rate and viability were optimal at a constant temperature of 25°C. Adult female longevity decreased as the temperature was increased from to 15°C to 30°C. The number of eggs laid and hatched decreased during the last six weeks of adult life for females reared at 20 and 25°C. © 1997 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.