Environmental Entomology (2008) 37, 1381-1388

Abbas Arbab, Dimitris C. Kontodimas and Mark R. McNeill (2008)
Modeling embryo development of Sitona discoideus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) under constant temperature
Environmental Entomology 37 (6), 1381-1388
Abstract: The alfalfa root weevil, Sitona discoideus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is an important pest of alfalfa. The developmental rates of the embryo development were recorded at eight constant temperatures ranging from 8.5 to 30°C. Using 10 models (1 linear and 9 nonlinear), we evaluated the relationship between constant temperature and developmental rate. Embryo development was shortest (8.5 d) and longest (69 d), at 28 and 8.5°C, respectively. The threshold temperature (T₀) and the thermal constant (K) were estimated using linear regression to be 4.7°C and 207.7 DD, respectively. The two most efficient nonlinear models, the Lactin and the Sharp and DeMichele, gave estimates of T_min and T_max of 4.4 and 3.9 and 30.0 and 30.9°C, respectively. This information has potential application in predicting the suitability and optimal time of release of an egg parasitoid of S. discoideus.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Dimitris C. Kontodimas

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
environment - cropping system/rotation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Sitona discoideus	Alfalfa/lucerne (Medicago sativa)