TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENT DEVELOPMENT IN A POLYMORPHIC LADY BEETLE, CALVIA-QUATUORDECIMGUTTATA (COLEOPTERA, COCCINELLIDAE)

The influence of temperature on the development rate and expression of 3 elytral color patterns in the lady beetle, Calvia quatuordecimgutta ta (L.), was assessed at 6 constant temperatures between 10 and 34 deg rees C. The expression of the 3 elytral color patterns was discrete an d independent of temperature treatment. No differences were observed a mong the color morphs in the real or physiological time for egg-to-adu lt development, or for pupal weight. However, temperature did influenc e survival and growth rates of the overall population. No eggs hatched at 34 degrees C. Larval mortality was high at 10 degrees C and modera te between 14 and 30 degrees C. Development time from oviposition to a dult was 14.6 +/- 0.9 d at 30 degrees C and 95.6 +/- 9.0 d at 10 degre es C. The total heat-unit requirement for egg to adult development was 274.1 DD above a mean development-threshold of 8.2 degrees C. Pupal w eight differed among temperature treatments and was greatest at 10-22 degrees C, and lowest at 26 and 30 degrees C.