The Effects of Temperature, Diet, and Other Factors on Development, Survivorship, and Oviposition of Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)

Abstract

Developmental rate and survivorship of small hive beetle, Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), life stages were measured across different temperatures (21, 25, 28, 32 and 35 degrees C) and diets, which included natural and artificial pollen, honey, and bee pupae. Temperature affected hatch success, time to hatching, and larval growth. Eggs hatched in 61 h at 21 degrees C but in < 22 h at 35 degrees C. Larvae achieved peak weight in < 8 d at 35 degrees C but needed 17 d at 21 degrees C. Diet had comparatively little effect on larval survivorship or maximum weight, although larvae fed only bee pupae had lower survivorship. Access to soil influenced pupation success. Duration of the life stage spent in the soil, during which pupation occurs, was also affected by temperature: adults emerged after 32.7 d at 21 degrees C but after only 14.8 d at 35 degrees C, albeit with high mortality. Minimum temperature for development was estimated at 13.5 degrees C for eggs, and 10.0 degrees C for larvae and pupae. Temperature influenced adult longevity and oviposition: on a honey and pollen diet average adult lifespan was 92.8 d at 24 degrees C but only 11.6 d at 35 degrees C. Beetles lived longer at 28 degrees C or lower but produced the most eggs per female, regardless of diet, at 32 degrees C. Beetle density influenced fecundity: beetles kept at three pairs per vial laid 6.7 times more eggs per female than those kept as single pairs. Overall, beetles fared best at 28-32 degrees C with mortality of all stages highest at 35 degrees C.

Pupal Development of <I>Aethina tumida</I> (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) in Thermo-Hygrometric Soil Conditions Encountered in Temperate Climates

“…These tubes were covered with a perforated lid to provide air circulation. If an adult died, the date was recorded and it was replaced with another adult of the same treatment and gender, if available (Meikle and Patt 2011).…”

“…The potential effect of sex on these response variables was also studied using a splitÐsplit-plot ANOVA model. Meikle and Patt (2011) developed a linear mixed model to estimate the minimal temperature for pupae development. We used a similar approach but chose between the linear and quadratic relation based on the Akaike information criterion (Burnham and Anderson 2002).…”

“…Because small hive beetles pupate in the soil, edaphic factors including moisture and density, Þeld slope, drainage, rainfall, and temperature greatly inßuence this stage of their development (de Guzman et al 2009). Soil temperature (de Guzman and Frake 2007, de Guzman et al 2009, Meikle and Patt 2011 and soil moisture (Lundie 1940, Schmolke 1974, Ellis et al 2004, Haque and Levot 2005 are the edaphic factors that have the greatest impact on pupal development and survivorship. Finally, soil type does not seem to affect the development of small hive beetle pupae (Schmolke 1974, Ellis et al 2004, de Guzman et al 2009).…”

“…Pupal development has been measured at temperatures of 21Ð35ЊC (Neumann et al 2001, Murrle and Neumann 2004, Ellis et al 2004, Haque and Levot 2005, de Guzman and Frake 2007, de Guzman et al 2009, Meikle and Patt 2011, Meikle and Diaz 2012, which are representative of climatic conditions in Africa, the southern United States, and Australia. Moreover, Meikle and Patt (2011) estimated that pupae could not develop at temperatures Ͻ10ЊC.…”

“…Moreover, Meikle and Patt (2011) estimated that pupae could not develop at temperatures Ͻ10ЊC. Nonetheless, soil temperatures in Canada during beekeeping season can range between 10 and 21ЊC.…”