THERMAL DEATH KINETICS OF CARIBBEAN FRUIT-FLY (DIPTERA, TEPHRITIDAE) EMBRYOS

Eggs of caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), in containers were immersed in controlled temperature baths to determine the suscep tibility of 24-h-old embryos (eggs) to heat treatment. Eggs were treat ed to compare three methods of thermal death estimation for the best p rediction for extrapolation to 99.9968% mortality. Linear regression g ave the best prediction of >99% mortality over the range of 37-42-degr ees-C and, for most temperatures, probit analysis provided the best pr edictions in the range of 43-50-degrees-C. Kinetic analysis was perfor med using the rate constants from the dose-response lines. The resulti ng Arrhenius plot was linear between 37-42 and 43-50-degrees-C, with a break between 42 and 43-degrees-C. The data are consistent with commo n mechanisms of thermal death over the ranges of 37-42 and 43-50-degre es-C.