Temperature Influences on the Development and Demography of Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) in China

The effects of seven constant temperatures (ranging from 19 to 36°C) on development, longevity, and fecundity of the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), were investigated in the laboratory. Development of preadults ranged from 30.4 d at 19°C to 17.4 d at 36°C. Egg to adult survival ranged from a high of 50% at 25°C to a low of 28%at 36°C. Adult life spans averaged 155 d at 19°C to 30 d at 36°C. The expectation of life at age 0 of adult females and males did not differ significantly. Females laid the most eggs (1,581 eggs) at 22°C and the fewest (nine eggs) at 36°C. Intrinsic rate of increase ranged from 0.095 at 34°C to 0.005 (individual per female per day) at 36°C. The population had the ability to double with the shortest time at 34°C (7.3 d) to the longest time at 36°C (130.7 d). These data can be used to maximize the production of B. dorsalis from mass-rearing facilities and to develop computer simulation models to predict B. dorsalis development and population dynamics for sterile insect release and male annihilation programs.