Effects of temperature on the development and reproduction of the predatory bug Joppeicus paradoxus Puton (Hemiptera: Joppeicidae) reared on Tribolium confusum eggs

The development and reproductive capacity of Joppeicus paradoxus Puton (Hemiptera: Joppeicidae) reared on Tribolium confusum Jaquelin du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) eggs, which is one of major pests of stored grain, were investigated at five constant temperatures (25, 28, 30, 32 and 34 °C), 70–80% RH and a 16L–8D photoperiod. The duration of pre-adult (egg to adult) stage ranged from 60.2 days at 32 °C to 142.9 days at 25 °C. Emergence rates were more than 55.6% at 25–32 °C, but only 27.2% at 34 °C. Female lifetime fecundity was greatly reduced at 34 °C, and reached a maximum at 30 °C. Female longevity ranged from 72.5 days at 28 °C to 118.5 days at 32 °C. The net reproductive rate ( R 0) and the intrinsic rate of natural increase ( r m) were the highest at 30 °C. It was estimated that the optimum temperature conditions for population increase of J. paradoxus, when fed with T. confusum eggs, lie around 30 °C.