• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.43 no.4 s.137
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• pp.297-304
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• 2004

The development of Aphidoletes aphidimyza, an aphidophagous gall midge, was studied at various constant temperatures ranging from 15 to $35^{\circ}C$, with $65{\pm}5\%$ RH, and a photo-period of 16L:8D. When A. aphidimyra was fed either on Aphis gossypii or Myzus persicae, it took 43.9 and 44.5 days, respectively, to develop from egg to pupa at $15^{\circ}C$, whereas at $25^{\circ}C$, 14.3 and 15.8 days. The developmental zero was 10.7 and $10.0^{\circ}C$, respectively, while the effective accumuative temperatures were 210.8 and 245.5 day-degrees. The nonlinear shape of temperature-dependent development, shown by A. aphidimyza when fed on either species of the aphids, was well described by the modified Sharpe and DeMichele model. When distribution model of completion time of development for each growth stage was expressed as physiological age and fitted to the Weibull fuction, the completion time of development gradually shortened from egg to larva, and to pupa. In addition, the coefficient of determination $r^2$ ranged between 0.86-0.93 and 0.85-0.94, respectively providing a good approximation of cumulative developmental rates. The life span of adult was 8.7 and 9.2 days at $15^{\circ}C$, and 3.1 and 2.7 days at $30^{\circ}C$, respectively. Egg incubation period was relatively short at $35^{\circ}C$ but hatchability was less than $50\%$ and the mortality of the larva at $35^{\circ}C$ reached $100\%$. At $30^{\circ}C$, the time of development lengthened and the adult longevity was short suggesting ill effect of high temperatures. Even though the life span of adults at $15^{\circ}C$ was relatively long, none moved freely in the rearing cage and no oviposition occurred. Accordingly, in case A. aphidimyza is adopted to suppress phytophagus aphid populations, it could be applicable to cropping systems with ambient temperatures above $20^{\circ}C$ and below $30^{\circ}C$. Within this range, A. aphidimyza adults was observed to be active and oviposit fully.