Phenology model of Leptocorisa chinensis (Hemiptera: Alydidae)

Leptocorisa chinensis (Hemiptera: Alydidae) causes pecky rice by sucking the milk stage of rice. In South Korea, they inhabit Jeju Island and around South Sea shore. They do not seem to have harmed rice fields, in South Korea. However, if they are expanding northward under global warming, they will cause damage to rice fields. In this study, we constructed phenology model to understand population dynamics and to develop an effective management of this species.

To develop a phenology model, we investigated development time and survival rate of eggs and nymphs at 10 constant temperatures (18.4, 20.3, 22.7, 25.3, 27.8, 30.4, 32.0, 33.3, 34.4, and 35.3 °C) and fecundity, longevity and survival rate of adult at 4 constant temperatures (22.0, 25.0, 28.0, and 31.0 °C) under a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D). The relation between development rate and temperature was fitted by the Briere 1 model. Distribution of developmental time against physiological age and cumulative oviposition rate were fitted by the two-parameter Weibull function. Survival rates were fitted by the sigmoid function. The development rate increased up to 33.3 °C in eggs, 32.0 °C in nymphs. In linear models, the low-threshold temperatures for the development were 13.3, and 12.8 °C for eggs, and nymphs, respectively. The highest total fecundity observed at 28.0 °C.