Effect of the temperature on development of <i>Tetranychus urticae</i> (Acari: Tetranychidae) feeding on cucumber leaves
Azadeh Farazmand
Abstract
The effect of seven constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 27.5, 30, 32.5, and 35 ± 1°C) on developmental time of Tetranychus urticae Koch on cucumber leaf discs was determined under laboratory conditions of 60 ± 5% RH and a photoperiod of 16 L:8D. The egg-to-adult developmental time decreased significantly with increasing temperature, except at 35°C. To describe the developmental rate of T. urticae as a function of temperature, one linear, and nine nonlinear models (Logan-6 & 10, Lactin-1& 2, Briere-1& 2, Analytis-3, Polynomial, and Equation-16) were fitted to data. By means of the linear model, the lower temperature threshold (T0) and thermal constant (K) were estimated for the entire immature development of female mites as 7.11°C and 227.27 ± 9.72 DD, respectively. Based on Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and R2adj, Logan-10, Lactin-1, Analytis-3, Logan-10, Analytis-3 were found to be the best models to describe the temperature-dependent development rate of eggs, larvae, protonymphs, and deutonymphs, as well as of total immature development from egg to adult. The results may serve as input for the development of a simulation model that can be used to predict the population dynamics of T. urticae inhabiting cucumber crops.