Condiciones de desarrollo del organismo modelo, Tribolium Castaneum Herbst (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Abstract

Tribolium castaneum, is a beetle widely used in research as a model organism in studies genetics, development, and toxicology. In this paper, we studied the development cycle of the insect to the conditions of 26±2 °C temperatures, with a diet of ground/flakes oatmeal. It has been widely reported that the environmental conditions and diet affects the development of the insect. The results obtained are presented as the mean ± standard deviation, with a value of p<0.05 to be considered with significant differences. We found that the egg stage has duration of 6-7 days, the larvae can reach up to eight instars and can move the pupal period from the fourth instar. The pupa stage has duration of 7±1.7 days. The cycle of development of the immature stages of the insect is 46-81 days, with an average of 65 days. Adults have a size of 3.6±0.0 x 1.1±0.0 mm. Therefore, the development of T. castaneum from egg to larva, then to pupa and finally to adult is affected by the conditions of temperature, type of food, humidity, and individual characteristics. Tribolium castaneum is an insect of complete metamorphosis (holometabolous) with a period of development of the immature stages in the range of 46-81 days, and up to eight instars in our laboratory conditions.