Effect of temperature on the life cycle of Aleuroglyphus ovatus (Acari: Acaridae) at four constant temperatures

Abstract

The effect of four constant temperatures (20, 24, 28 and 32 °C) on the physiological properties (survival, developmental time, sex ratio, fecundity and longevity of females), and population growth of Aleuroglyphus ovatus was examined in the laboratory at 85% relative humidity. The total developmental time, longevity and oviposition period of A. ovatus shortened as temperature increased. The shortest developmental time (14.70 ± 0.34 days) was obtained at 32 °C. At 20, 24, 28 and 32 °C, mated females laid on average 0.87 ± 0.10, 2.57 ± 0.13, 3.14 ± 0.27 and 1.29 ± 0.16 eggs per day, respectively. Maximum fecundity was recorded at 28 °C with 70.83 ± 10.16 eggs per female. The highest intrinsic rate of increase ( r m ) was found to be 0.16 at 28 °C.