Heat Production and Thermal Conductivity of Respiring Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) Pupae During Shipment

Abstract

Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann, pupae produce heat by metabolizing glucose. From the moles of carbon dioxide exhaled, approximately 0.048 to 0.482 joule/g• min of heat were produced at 10-35°C. The expected thermal conductivity values for a load of pupae plus air (bulk density, 0.51 g/ml) ranged from 0.000113 to 0.001552 joule/s•cm•°C at peripheral temperatures of 10-35°C, with a maximum value of 0.001700 joule/s•cm•°C at 32.2°C. The critical radius for maximum heat movement varied from 0.2 to 3.1 cm, with a maximum value of 3.4 cm at 32.2°C.