Effects of Temperature on Adult Velvetbean Caterpillar1 Oviposition, Egg Hatch, and Longevity2

Effects of temperature on velvetbean caterpillar (VBC), Anticarsia gemmatalis HA¼bner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), oviposition, egg hatch, and adult longevity were investigated at 3 regimes: (1) constant temperatures of 21.1°, 23.9°, 26.7°, 29.4°, and 32.2°C (on artificial diet); (2) variable temperatures simulating “summer” at Gainesville, FL (artificial diet and soybean foliage); (3) field-reared adults (in cages on soybean). Mean oviposition was highest at 26.7°C (842.2 egg/female) and lowest at 32.2° (310.0 eggs/female) constant. Peak average daily oviposition was higher for young females and was delayed as temperatures decreased. Mean egg hatch was high initially but decreased with maternal age. Female longevity varied from a mean of 24.8 days (21.1°C) to 11.2 days (32.2°C). Unmated females lived significantly (I± = .05) longer than mated females at a given temperature.