Effects of three constant temperature ranges to control Callosobruchus chinensis (Coleoptera: Bruchidae): a serious pest of pulses in Egypt

Abstract

The current study was conducted to evaluate the effects of constant temperature (16, 24 and 32 °C) on the biology of Callosobruchus chinensis L. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). The study revealed that all the biological parameters C. chinensis were affected by the three temperatures tested. The results showed that the duration of egg, larval, pupal and adult longevity were decreased as the temperature increased. The longest duration needed for the insect to complete its life cycle was 76.8 days at 16 °C. Increasing temperature from 16 to 32 °C reduced the period duration needed for the insect to complete its life cycle to 24.7 days at 32 °C. The most favorable temperature for the development of egg, larva and pupa of C. chinensis was 32 °C. The developmental thresholds were 10.62, 7.80, 10.23 and 8.98 °C and the corresponding thermal units were 83.57, 359.45, 137.40 and 579.52 day-degree for egg, larval, pupal and from egg to adult, respectively. Also, analysis of variance showed significant effect of temperature on the pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition periods. It was clear that survival period of the adult decreased considerably with the increase in temperature from 16 to 32 °C. Also, the data showed that the adult females lived longer than males at all tested temperatures.