Development and heat tolerance of Anthrenus coloratus (Reitter) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) reared on a laboratory diet

Abstract The number of larval instars of Anthrenus coloratus reared on dried baby milk plus pure wool textile at 33–35 °C, 70–80% r.h., ranged from seven to nine. The mean duration of each larval instar from the first to the sixth was similar and shorter than those of later ones. The incubation period of eggs was 8.3 ± 0.1 days. Larvae took a mean of 101.7 ± 4.4 days to complete development and pupate. Only 5.4 ± 0.1 days was recorded for the pupal period. Young and old larvae withstood starvation for 40.0 ± 5.0 and 48.3 ± 6.6 days, respectively, and 19% of the old larvae transformed to pupae. Starvation significantly affected the longevity of both mated and non-mated adult females but not of adult males. Only mated females were able to oviposit, and starvation had a considerable effect on fecundity as well as on the oviposition and post-oviposition periods. Larvae could tolerate high temperature exposure at 50 °C for only 4 min; mortality started after 6 min and increased to 100% after 12 min.