Biological parameters, life table and thermal requirements of Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Heteroptera: Thaumastocoridae) at different temperatures

L R Barbosa,A J V Zanuncio,A P Rodrigues,F Santos,J M Campos,C F Wilcken,E P Soliman,J C Zanuncio

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-45663-5

L R Barbosa, A J V Zanuncio + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-45663-5

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Abstract

Temperature affects the development, population dynamics, reproduction and population size of insects. Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero et Dellape (Heteroptera: Thaumastocoridae) is a eucalyptus pest. The objective of this study was to determine biological and life table parameters of T. peregrinus on Eucalyptus benthamii at five temperatures (18 °C; 22 °C; 25 °C; 27 °C and 30 °C) with a relative humidity (RH) of 70 ± 10% and photoperiod of 12 hours. The duration of each instar and the longevity of this insect were inversely proportional to the temperature, regardless of sex. The nymph stage of T. peregrinus was 36.4 days at 18 °C and 16.1 days at 30 °C. The pre-oviposition period was 5.1 days at 30 °C and 13.1 days at 18 °C and that of oviposition was 7.6 days at 30 °C and 51.2 days at 22 °C. The generation time (T) of T. peregrinus was 27.11 days at 22 °C and 8.22 days at 30 °C. Lower temperatures reduced the development and increased the life stage duration of T. peregrinus. Optimum temperatures for T. peregrinus development and reproduction were 18 and 25 °C, respectively.

Highlights

Temperature affects the development, population dynamics, reproduction and population size of insects
Thaumastocoris peregrinus development and reproduction reinforces the temperature effect on insects[29], with the duration of its juvenile stage decreasing as temperature increases, as found for Corythucha ciliate (Say) (Hemiptera: Tingidae) and Loxostege sticticalis (L.) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)[30]
The shorter duration of each instar and of the adult period of T. peregrinus at higher temperatures is due to increased metabolism, food intake and energy, allowing the insect to reach the stage[31,32]

Summary

Introduction

Temperature affects the development, population dynamics, reproduction and population size of insects. Lower temperatures reduced the development and increased the life stage duration of T. peregrinus. The bronze bug Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae), an Australian eucalyptus pest was first recorded in Brazil in 20091. At high infestations, this insect decreases the photosynthetic rate, leading to partial or total plant defoliation, and in some cases, plant death[2,3]. High temperatures can decrease fecundity, hatching and survival of these organisms[23], while low temperatures can affect the sex ratio (reduce male proportion), behavior, and population distribution of insects[24]. The study of temperature in life-history variables, such as nymph development period, adult longevity and fecundity is crucial to the development of pest-management strategies[25]. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different temperatures on biological parameters of T. peregrinus

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