Shanchun Huang

Effect of temperature on the population growth of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on sugarcane.

ABSTRACT The effect of temperature on the developmental time, survival, and reproduction of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) reared on sugarcane was studied at seven constant temperatures (16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, and 40°C). The developmental threshold temperatures and effective accumulated temperatures for the whole generation were 17.41°C and 1,590.72 DD, respectively. One generation had the highest survival rate (26.67%) at 28°C. The egg failed to survive at 16 and 40°C. The population trend index (I = 38.22) and net reproductive rate (Ro = 38.3) were highest at 28°C. The net reproductive rate (Ro = 3.36), intrinsic rate of increase (rm = 0.0028), and finite capacity of increase (&lgr; = 1.0028) were lowest at 20°C. The mean generation time (To = 85.82) was shortest at 36°C. The population double time (PDT = 27.08) was shortest at 32°C. Based on these studies, we concluded that the temperatures from 28 to 32°C were the most suitable temperatures for the development of R. ferrugineus.

Development and characterization of microsatellite markers for the fruit fly, Bactrocera tau (Diptera: Tephritidae)

The fruit fly, Bactrocera tau (Walker), is one of the most important invasive worldwide pests on fruits and vegetables. In order to facilitate species identification and population genetic analysis, we isolated 22 microsatellite loci through an enriched genomic library protocol. Polymorphisms were evaluated in 30 individuals. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 9, and the observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.048 to 0.862 and 0.136 to 0.852, respectively. The polymorphic information content values were from 0.124 to 0.818. Eight loci had significant deviations from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. These SSR markers can be used to understand the population genetics and evolutionary patterns of the B. tau complex.