Abstract
We investigated the developmental period, survival rates during the larval and pupal stages, adult longevity, and fecundity of Micromus numerosus, M. angulatus and M. linearis at five constant temperature conditions (10, 15, 20, 25 and 30°C), under a 15L–9D photoregime with Aphis craccivora as prey. The lower thermal thresholds and thermal constants for total development were estimated, respectively, at 7.7°C and 343 degree-days (DD) for M. numerosus, 9.0°C and 297 DD for M. angulatus, and 5.2°C and 447 DD for M. linearis. M. linearis eggs did not hatch at 30°C. At 20°C, the mean total number of eggs laid by a female was 544 in M. numerosus, 399 in M. angulatus, and 614 in M. linearis. The mean longevity of female adult in days was 55 in M. numerosus, 46 in M. angulatus, and 46 in M. linearis. From these results, we evaluated suitable temperature ranges as approximately 20°C for M. numerosus, 15–25°C for M. angulatus, and 10–25°C for M. linearis.
