Development and survivorship of Carpophilus hemipterus (L.), Carpophilus mutilatus Erichson and Carpophilus humeralis (F.) (Coleoptera : Nitidulidae)over a range of constant temperatures

Eggs of Carpophilus humeralis (F.) and Carpophilus mutilatus Erichson devel oped at constant temperatures from 20-37.5 degrees C, while Carpophilus hem ipterus (L.) completed development at temperatures from 20-42.5 degrees C. Carpophilus hemipterus completed larval and pupal development at all temper atures up to and including 40 degrees C. Carpophilus mutilatus reached adul thood at 37.5 degrees C, but C. humeralis was only able to complete egg to adult development at temperatures up to 32.5 degrees C. Rates of developmen t changed in a linear fashion with temperature. The development of C. hemip terus eggs and larvae was faster at all temperatures than the other two spe cies (P < 0.05). Developmental duration from egg to adult for the three spe cies ranged From 47-65 days at 20 degrees C to 14-18 days at 32.5 degrees C . The fastest development was recorded for C. hemipterus at 37.5 degrees C (13.4 days). Lower developmental zeroes (DZ) were similar for the eggs, lar vae and pupae of each species, ranging between 14.0-16.0 degrees C. Estimat es of DZ for egg-adult development were 15.3 degrees C (mutilatus), 15.4 de grees C (humeralis) and 14.6 degrees C (hemipterus). Egg to adult developme nt required 260.4 (hemipterus), 297.6 (humeralis) or 320.0 (mutilatus) degr ee-days. Survivorship was greatest for all species at temperatures between 25-30 degrees C, with the larval stage suffering most mortality from higher or lower temperatures. The use of degree-day estimates to predict timing o f adult generations of Carpophilus spp. is discussed with respect to the ma nagement of these pests in stone fruit orchards in southern Australia.