Abstract
Insect populations and their dispersal can be altered by temperature changes. As a result, evaluating the effects of these changes on insect species' developmental stages is critical for establishing effective management measures.
This study examined the developmental duration, growth, longevity, fecundity, and other population parameters in two generations of green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) exposed to four different temperatures (i.e., 27 °C, 30 °C, 33 °C, and 36 °C) for four different time intervals (i.e., 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, and 10 h).
The results indicated that nymph survival rate significantly decreased with exposure to 36 °C for 10 h in both generations (F1 and F2). The survival rate of 1st to 4th instars of F1 generation decreased by 85.0 %, 88.5 %, 85.7 %, and 83.7 % respectively at 36° C for 10 h exposure compared to the control (25 °C). Similarly, survival rate of 1st to 4th instars of F2 generation decreased by 83.7 %, 86.0 %, 82.2 %, and 78.7 %, respectively when exposed to 36 °C for 10 h compared to the control. The shortest longevity of both generations was observed under 33 °C and 36 °C exposure for 10 h. The highest and the lowest net reproductive rate (R0) for both generations was observed under exposure to 27 °C for 1 h and 36 °C for 10 h, respectively. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) of the two generations reached the highest level under 27 °C exposure for 1 h and the lowest was recorded for the individuals exposed to 36 °C for 10 h. The highest finite rate of increase (λ = F1, 1.41 and F2, 1.42 d−1) for two generations was examined for the individuals exposed to 27 °C for 1 h. The values of life table parameters of both generations were significantly affected under exposure to 36 °C for 10 h.
The combined effect of different temperatures and time intervals on biological and life table parameters of M. persicae studied first time in this study. Therefore, our research will help in estimating the modifications that a population of M. persicaemay experience in response to heat stress.