Effects of rearing temperature on length of larval period and size of adults in Culicoides arakawae and Culicoides maculatus (Dipteria:Ceratopogonidae).

Abstract

Effects of rearing temperature on the duration of larval period and the wing lengths of adults were studied in a laboratory strain of Culicoides arakawae and in wild-caught C. maculatus fed cultured nematodes of Rhabditis elongata as diets on agar medium. Larvae of each species responded differently to rearing temperature. So that the larval development of C. arakawae adapted to high temperature and of C. maculatus to low temperature. Low temperature increased the duration of larval period considerably in C. arakawae and slightly in C. maculatus. The developmental zero, for both species was found in almost the same range from 15 to 16 degrees C. No pupae were produced in C. arakawae at 35 degrees C and in C. maculatus above 30 degrees C. High temperature, as well as low temperature, induced low efficiency in pupation. The highest percent pupation was seen in both species at 22.5 degrees C. There was a close inverse relationship between the wing length and larval rearing temperature for both sexes of each species.