Rhyzopertha dominica is a serious pest of stored grain worldwide and is becoming increasingly more common in Montana. In this study we examined aspects of the thermal biology of R. dominica. In stored grain, insect movement is affected by temperature, thus trap catch should be temperature dependent. In our experiments we offered adult beetles a range of temperatures, from -3.0°C to 42.0°C, on a laboratory thermal gradient. After 7 days on the gradient, 88% were located within a range from 29.0°C to 34.0°C. Subsequent emergence from this wheat confirms that this is also the preferred temperature range for oviposition. This research provides information that will improve the ability to interpret trap catch data.
Species 1: Coleoptera Bostrichidae Rhyzopertha dominica (lesser grain borer)
Keywords: stored grain, temperature
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA