Survival and Time of Development forCreophilus maxillosus(L.) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) at Three Constant Temperatures

Abstract

The hairy rove beetle, Creophilus maxillosus (L.) (Staphylinidae), is a common fly predator associated with decomposing cadavers and carcasses. Developmental studies were conducted at constant temperatures of 16, 24, and 32°C, 50% relative humidity, and 12:12 h L:D photoperiod. Laboratory-collected eggs were reared in a Caron Products® Insect Growth Chamber. All insects were housed in separate cups and fed frozen secondary screwworm larvae, Cochliomyia macellaria (F.) (Calliphoridae). Beetles from 1,889 eggs were studied (n = 323 at 16°C; n = 504 at 24°C; and n = 1,062 at 32°C). Mean developmental times for all life stages decreased as temperature increased. Mean total developmental times for C. maxillosus at 16, 24, and 32°C were 1,523.3, 857.8, and 571.3 hours, respectively. Developmental times were significantly different for temperature, life stage, and temperature × life stage interactions. All Tukey-Kramer pairwise comparison tests for developmental times per temperature were significant, while all life stage comparisons were significantly different except for the egg and second instar. Tukey-Kramer pairwise comparison tests for developmental time for all temperature × life stage interactions are discussed. All stages reared at 16 and 32°C showed increased mortality, with the highest mortality in the third instar and pupal stages (>60 and 90%, respectively). Attainment of adulthood was extremely low for 16 and 32°C (0.01 and 0.008%, respectively), whereas 47% of eggs at 24°C reached adulthood. Developmental times established at 24°C may potentially contribute to future postmortem estimations of deceased humans and wildlife based on accumulated degree days.