Journal of Medical Entomology (1997) 34, 517-520

Stanley R. Jones and Sidney E. Kunz (1997)
Upper thermal limits for Hypoderma lineatum (Diptera: Oestridae) egg hatching and development
Journal of Medical Entomology 34 (5), 517-520
Abstract: During periods of Hypoderma lineatum (De Villers) oviposition activity, arnbient temperatures reached 28°C and dorsal bovine dermal temperatures exceeded 45°C. Egg hatch decreased linearly with increased constant temperatures from 79% at 35°C to 0% at 39°C. Egg hatch varied from 58 to 80% after 1-, 3-, or 5-h exposures to 40 or 45°C. Exposures of 3 h or more at 50°C were lethal, whereas 66% of all eggs survived 1-h exposures to 50°C. The upper thermal limit for survival at constant temperatures lies between 38 and 39°C, with ~53% survival at 37°C. H. lineatum eggs are well adapted to typical temperatures occurring in their natural habitat; however, these temperatures can at times exceed the eggs' upper developmental threshold. This limitation of the host environment may have led to the evolution of adult oviposition preferences for the lower parts of the host animal, shielded from incident solar radiation.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)

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.
	Hypoderma lineatum
	Hypoderma bovis