Effects of Temperature on Survival, Development, Longevity, and Fecundity of Ophraella communa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a Potential Biological Control Agent Against Ambrosia artemisizfolia (Asterales: Asteraceae).

Ophraella communa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a leafbeetle that is unintentionally introduced in China. It is a potential biological control agent against common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Asterales: Asteraceae). The effects of temperature on the development and fecundity of 0. communa were studied at eight constant temperature regimens (15, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30, 32, 36°C) in the laboratory. The results showed that the developmental periods for egg, larva, pupa, and entire immature stages decreased in response to the increasing temperature, with the exception of 30°C. The survival rates at different developmental stages were higher at 25 and 28°C than at other temperatures. Ovipositional period and longevity of female shortened with the increasing temperature. The highest fecundity of female was observed to be 2,712.3 eggs/female at 28°C. Life table of 0. communa was constructed based on the data at 20 -32°C. The innate capacity for increase (r_m), the net reproductive rate (R₀),and the finite rate of increase (λ) reached the maximum at 28°C, with values of 0.247, 1,773.0, and 1,280, respectively. The shortest period of a generation (T) was 24.6 d at 32°C, whereas the longest T value was recorded as 79.3 d at 20°C. These results offer valuable insight on the establishment potential of 0. communa in new environments with diverse temperature regimens and on its massrearing techniques in laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]