1986 Volume 30 Issue 3 Pages 167-172
Effect of high temperature conditions during pupal stage of melon fly, Dacus cucurbitae COQUILLETT, was investigated. Pupae were exposed to 27°C (control), 30°C, 32°C and 34°C before testing of emerged adults. Emergence rate was significantly lower in the pupae treated with 34°C than in those with 27°C, 30°C and 32°C. Flight ability of adults tested by a modified method of BOLLER et al. (1981) was significantly lower as the temperature condition during pupal stage became higher. There were no difference in ovarian development of females in all treatments. Percentages of mated pairs were higher in the flies treated with 27°C and 30°C, but low in those treated with 32°C. Flies treated with 34°C hardly copulated. Males were more susceptible to higher temperatures than females in the harmful effect on mating ability. In the condition that only flies having flight ability could be fed, survivorship was lower in the adults treated with higher temperatures especially with 34°C.
