Effect of temperature on life history characteristics of Anisopteromalus calandrae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) parasitizing maize weevil larvae in corn kernels

Abstract

The second generation of Anisopteromalus calandrae collected from commercial stored corn in South Carolina was reared at constant temperatures of 20, 25, 30, and 35°C at 63% RH and a 12:12 (L:D) photoperiod. Hosts were medium to large larvae of Sitophilus zeamais. Female longevity was greatest at 20°C (14.5 d median) and shortest at 30 and 35°C (6 d). Median female development time ranged from 44 d at 20°C to 10 d at 35°C. Mean number of progeny produced per female over her lifetime increased from 10.4 at 20°C to 42.6 at 35°C. Progeny sex ratio was much lower at 20°C (33% female) than at the other temperatures (63-71% female). Intrinsic rate of increase was lowest at 20°C (0.028 female per female per day) and greatest at 35°C (0.250), net reproductive rate increased from 4.5 female per female at 20°C to 27.7 at 35°C, and generation time decreased from 53.5 to 13.3 d. -from Author