Life Table Study of Brown Citrus Aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) at Different Temperatures

The development, survivorship, and reproduction of brown citrus aphid, Toxoptera citricida (Kirkaldy), were evaluated at 8 constant temperatures (8, 10, 15, 20, 25, 28, 30, and 32°C). The developmental periods of immature stages ranged from 63.1 d at 8°C to 5.5 d at 30°C. The lower developmental threshold for the brown citrus aphid immature was estimated at 6.27°C. The upper temperature threshold of 31.17°C for development of nymph was determined from a nonlinear biophysical model. The percentage of survivorship of immature stages varied from 81 to 97% within the temperature range of 8–30°C. However, survivorship was reduced to 29% at 32°C. The average longevity of adult females ranged from 60.0 d at 10°C to 6.5 d at 32°C. The average progeny per female was 52.5 at 20°C and 7.5 at 32°C. The largest rm (0.3765) occurred at 28°C. Populations reared at 10 and 32°C had the smallest rm values of 0.0588 and 0.0960, respectively. The mean generation time of the population ranged from 51 d at 10°C to 8 d at 32°C. The optimal range of temperature for T. citricida population growth was 20–30°C. Several mathematical functions were used to quantify brown citrus aphid development, survivorship, reproduction and lifetable parameters in relation to temperatures.