Effects of Temperature on Development, Survival, and Fecundity of Potato Tuberworm, Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on Potato Tubers.

Golizadeh, A.; Razmjou, J.; Rafiee-Dastjerdi, H.; Hassanpour, M.

The potato tuberworm, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is one of the most economically damaging insect pests of potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) worldwide. The effects of temperature on performance of potato tuberworm was studied at six constant temperatures; 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, and 36°C. Potato tuberworm failed to survive at 36°C during the egg period. Total developmental time decreased with increasing temperature up to 32°C. Adult longevity was negatively correlated with temperature and the longest adult longevity was observed at 16°C. The average fecundity of females ranged from 45.3 eggs at 16°C to 117.3 eggs at 28°C. Net reproductive rate ( R) ranged from 12.8 at 16°C to 43.2 at 28°C. Mean generation time ( T) decreased with increasing temperatures from 61.0 days at 16°C to 16.2 days at 32°C. Mean generation time and doubling time had the highest value at 16°C. The intrinsic rate of increase ( r) values ranged from 0.042 (female offspring/female/day) at 16°C to 0.228 (female offspring per female per day) at 28°C. The findings of this study may provide important information for designing a comprehensive pest management program for potato tuberworm especially in storerooms.

POTATO diseases & pests; PHTHORIMAEA; GELECHIIDAE; LEPIDOPTERA; PLANT diseases

American Journal of Potato Research, 2012, Vol 89, Issue 2, p150

1099-209X

Academic Journal

10.1007/s12230-012-9237-4