Effects of temperature on biology and life table parameters of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Homoptera: Psyllidae)

The development, survivorship, longevity, reproduction, and life table parameters of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina Kuwayama were evaluated at 10 degreesC, 15 degreesC, 20 degreesC, 25 degreesC, 28 degreesC, 30 degreesC and 33 degreesC. The populations reared at 10 degreesC and 33 degreesC failed to develop. Between 15 degreesC and 30 degreesC, mean developmental period from egg to adult varied from 49.3 days at 15 degreesC to 14.1 days at 28 degreesC. The low-temperature developmental thresholds for 1st through 5th instars were estimated at 11.7 degreesC, 10.7 degreesC, 10.1 degreesC, 10.5 degreesC and 10.9 degreesC, respectively. A modified Logan model was used to describe the relationship between developmental rate and temperature. The survival of the 3rd through 5th nymphal instars at 15-28 degreesC was essentially the same. The mean longevity of females increased with decreasing temperature within 15-30 degreesC. The maximal longevity of individual females was recorded 117, 60, 56, 52 and 51 days at 15 degreesC, 20 degreesC, 25 degreesC, 28 degreesC and 30 degreesC, respectively. The average number of eggs produced per female significantly increased with increasing temperature and reached a maximum of 748.3 eggs at 28 degreesC (P < 0.001). The population reared at 28<degrees>C had the highest intrinsic rate of increased (0.199) and net reproductive rate (292.2); and the shortest population doubling time (3.5 days) and mean generation time (28.6 days) compared with populations reared at 15-25 degreesC. The optimum range of temperatures for D. citri population growth was 25-28 degreesC.