DEVELOPMENTAL ADAPTATION OF THE EUROPEAN CORN BORER (OSTRINIA NUBILALIS HÜBNER) IN ALBERTA

Abstract

AbstractTemperature effects on development were studied for two Alberta populations of Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), from the South Saskatchewan River valley and the surrounding plains. Lower developmental thresholds for all life stages of both Alberta populations were determined by linear regression. Thresholds for the egg stage were significantly less for plains borers (9.5°C) than for valley borers (10.8°C), and about 2°C lower than for corn borers from the United States. Thresholds in Alberta populations for the 4th (15.3°C) and 5th (14.0°C, plains) instars, and for post-diapause pupation (12.8°C), were much higher than in populations from the United States. Higher temperature thresholds delay development in Alberta populations, thus reducing midsummer pupation. Valley populations developed significantly faster than plains populations during egg development, during the prepupal period of the 5th instar, and during post-diapause pupation. These results explain why valley populations have a partial second generation in some years.