Effect of Temperature on Development and Reproduction of Epilachna dodecastigma (Wied.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

The effect of five constant temperatures of 21, 24, 27, 30 and 33 °C on adult life span, reproduction, oviposition behavior and larval developmental time of a bitter gourd inhabited coleopteran insect Epilachna dodecastigma (Wied.) (Coccinellidae) was determined in laboratory conditions under 70 ± 5 % relative humidity and a photoperiod of 12 L : 12 D. Larval developmental time of E. dodecastigma decreased as temperature increased from 21 to 33 °C. Life table data revealed that overall mortality was lowest at 27 °C and highest at 21 °C. Females lived longer than males at all temperatures; but longevity decreased with increase in temperature. Pre-oviposition period decreased significantly with increase in temperature up to 27 °C and thereafter increased at a slower rate; whereas oviposition period decreased significantly with increase in temperature. Fecundity and egg viability increased significantly with an increase in temperature up to 27 °C and thereafter decreased at a slower rate. The intrinsic rate of increase (r m ) was 0.1703, 0.1984, 0.2235, 0.2227 and 0.2181 day−1 at 21, 24, 27, 30 and 33 °C, respectively. The net reproductive rate and finite rate of increase was highest at 27 °C (R o = 112.05; λ = 1.4233) and lowest at 21 °C (R o = 51.23; λ = 1.2581).