Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 23, 2026
09:23
Methodology for Developing Life Tables for Sessile Insects in the Field Using the Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, in Cotton As a Model System
Published on: November 1, 2017
11.8K
Dicyphus cerastii: First data on development, survival, and reproduction
Gonçalo Abraços-Duarte1,2,3, Filipe Madeira4,5, Paula Souto2,6
1Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
Plos One
|April 9, 2025
Summary
Dicyphus cerastii, a key predator in horticulture, shows reduced development and longevity at higher temperatures across various hosts. Optimal development from egg to adult occurs around 29.2°C.
Area of Science:
- Entomology
- Pest Management
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Dicyphus cerastii is a significant natural enemy of pests in horticultural systems.
- Understanding its biological traits is crucial for effective biological control strategies.
- Limited data exists on the influence of environmental factors on D. cerastii development and reproduction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the effects of host plants (tomato, tobacco, Cape gooseberry) and temperature on Dicyphus cerastii nymphal development, survival, and adult longevity.
- To establish the thermal requirements for D. cerastii immature development, including optimal temperatures and thresholds.
- To assess the reproductive capacity of D. cerastii at different temperatures on tomato plants.
Main Methods:
- Nymphal development, survival, and adult longevity were assessed on tomato, tobacco, and Cape gooseberry at 15.0, 20.0, and 25.0°C with prey availability.
- Immature development and adult longevity were further studied across seven temperatures (15.0–35.0°C) on tomato.
- Reproductive parameters (net reproductive rate, generation time, intrinsic rate of increase) were measured at 20.0, 25.0, and 30.0°C on tomato.
Main Results:
- Nymphal development and survival were host-dependent and negatively impacted by increasing temperatures.
- Optimal temperature for egg to adult development was estimated at 29.2°C, with a lower developmental threshold of approximately 7.0°C.
- Adult longevity decreased significantly with rising temperatures, from 158.6 days at 15.0°C to 13.8 days at 30.0°C.
Conclusions:
- Temperature is a critical factor influencing the life cycle and performance of Dicyphus cerastii.
- Higher temperatures reduce development time but also decrease survival and longevity, potentially impacting its efficacy as a biological control agent.
- The findings provide essential data for optimizing the use of Dicyphus cerastii in integrated pest management programs within greenhouses and field crops.
Related Concept Videos
00:58Symbiosis
27.5K
Symbiotic relationships are long-term, close interactions between individuals of different species that affect the distribution and abundance of those species. When a relationship is beneficial to both species, this is called mutualism. When the relationship is beneficial to one species but neither beneficial nor harmful to the other species, this is called commensalism. When one organism is harmed to benefit another, the relationship is known as parasitism. These types of relationships often...
27.5K
01:27Diversity of Protists IV
2.1K
Amoebozoa represent a diverse group of terrestrial and aquatic protists that utilize lobe-shaped pseudopodia for locomotion and feeding. This characteristic differentiates them from the Rhizaria, which possess threadlike pseudopodia. The primary classifications within Amoebozoa include gymnamoebas, entamoebas, and the plasmodial and cellular slime molds. Phylogenetic evidence indicates that Amoebozoa diverged from a lineage that ultimately gave rise to fungi and animals.Gymnamoebas and...
2.1K