EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON OVIPOSITION AND EGG DEVELOPMENT IN THE SPOTTED TENTIFORM LEAFMINER, PHYLLONORYCTER BLANCARDELLA (LEPIDOPTERA: GRACILLARIIDAE)

Abstract

AbstractThe threshold temperature (t0) for both oviposition and egg development and the thermal constant (K) for egg development were determined using linear regression analysis for an Ontario population of the spotted tentiform leafminer, Phyllonorycter blancardella (Fabr.). Fecundity was highly variable, ranging from 1 to 152 eggs, and was not significantly affected by temperature. Calculation of the daily oviposition rates for the first 4 days of the experiment and for the period from the beginning of the experiment until the day on which the last egg was laid resulted in estimates of the oviposition threshold of 9.1 and 8.9°C, respectively. The threshold temperature for egg development was estimated as 2.5°C and the thermal constant for egg development as 172.5 degree-days.