RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TEMPERATURE AND LIFE-HISTORY PARAMETERS OF STOMOXYS-CALCITRANS (DIPTERA, MUSCIDAE)

Relationships between temperature and life history parameters were det ermined for the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.). Median immature developmental times ranged from >60 d at 15 degrees C to <12 d at 30 d egrees C, with minimum time at 30.6 degrees C. Egg survival decreased from 0.98 at 15 degrees C to 0.91 at 20 degrees C, then increased to 0 .98 at 35 degrees C. Larval survival ranged from 0.83 at 20 degrees C to 0.65 at 35 degrees C, and pupal survival ranged from 0.93 at 20 deg rees C to 0.42 at 35 degrees C with maxima at 22.1 degrees C and 19.9 degrees C for larvae and pupae, respectively. Median longevity of fema les and males were greatest at 17.3 degrees C. Time to 50% survival ra nged from >30 d at 15 degrees C to <6 d at 35 degrees C. Daily fecundi ty averaged 1.07, 8.89, 14.88, 26.22, and 7.90 eggs per female per day at 15, 20? 25, 30, and 35 degrees C, respectively. Lifetime fecundity ranged from <30 eggs per female at 15 and 35 degrees C to >700 eggs p er female at 25 degrees C and was greatest at 25.3 degrees C. Net repr oductive rate, and, the intrinsic rate of increase had maxima at 25.3 and 27.8 degrees C, and mean generation time was minimum at 33.4 degre es C. Proportional variation in the time of immature development and a dult longevity were independent of temperature, but proportional varia tion in the time of oviposition was related inversely to temperature. Extreme temperatures appeared to lengthen the preoviposition period an d reduce the duration of egg production. Relationships were compared w ith previous studies. Equations developed and presented in this articl e will be used to develop a temperature-dependent stable ny population model.