Temperature-Dependent Development of Exorista larvarum (Diptera: Tachinidae): An Efficient Candidate for Biological Pest Control

Climatic conditions are the most important factor in the distribution and abundance of living organisms, with temperature serving as a critical factor influencing the development of insect pests and their natural enemies. Thermal models are a key component of modern integrated pest management (IPM) systems. The Exorista larvarum (Linnaeus, ۱۷۵۸) (Diptera: Tachinidae), a gregarious larval endoparasitoid, serves as a biocontrol agent against several lepidopteran pests affecting both forest and agricultural ecosystems. To optimize the mass rearing of E. larvarum and improve its application in IPM programs, the developmental times of this parasitoid were investigated under seven constant temperatures (۱۵-۳۵ °C) in laboratory conditions. We applied two linear and ۲۶ nonlinear models to describe the temperature-dependent development rate of E. larvarum. The lower temperature threshold (T۰) and thermal constant (K) were estimated to be ۵.۰۹ °C and ۳۸۹.۴۱ DD using the ordinary linear model and ۹.۷۳ °C and ۲۹۲.۷۴ DD using the Ikemoto model, respectively. Among the nonlinear models, Performance-۲, Beta, Janisch/Kontodimas, Analytis-۱, and Analytis-۳/Kontodimas were the best models to describe the temperature-dependent development rate of the parasitoid. The estimated Tfast values by Performance-۲ and Janisch/Kontodimas models were ۳۳.۲ and ۳۱.۴ °C, respectively, closely were the closest to Tfast observed (۳۲.۵ °C). Our findings can help to gain new and valuable insights into the biology of E. larvarum and provide essential information that can be incorporated into forecasting models of this parasitoid.

کلیدواژه ها:

Bio-control ، degree day ، Developmental rate ، temperature thresholds ، tachinid fly