Environmental Entomology (1985) 14, 629-633

Lane M. Smith II and L.T. Kok (1985)
Influence of temperature on the development and mortality of immature Rhinocyllus conicus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
Environmental Entomology 14 (5), 629-633
Abstract: Influence of temperature on development and mortality of immature stages of Rhinocyllus conicus Froelich was investigated under different constant temperatures in the laboratory. Development time functions based on the parabola were used to model the data. Because the larvae develop within musk thistle (Carduus thoermeri Weinmann) heads, developmental times of the larvae were measured indirectly. Determination of the four larval stages of R. conicus was based on distribution of head-capsule sizes of field-collected larvae. Hatching threshold was 11°C and threshold temperatures for development were 16-20°C for the different larval and pupal stages. This temperature range may be an adaptation of R. conicus for synchronization with musk thistle. Highest mortalities for immature stages of R. conicus occurred in the first and fourth instars.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Loke T. Kok

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Carduus thoermeri (weed)
Rhinocyllus conicus (weed bioagent)	Carduus thoermeri (weed)