| dc.identifier.citation | Odhiambo, M. A., Ochia, C. O. & Okuto, E. O. (2022). Effects of Temperature on the Development and Survival of Cricket Species; Acheta domesticus and Gryllus bimaculatus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae). East African Journal of Agriculture and Biotechnology, 5(1), 176-189. https://doi.org/10.37284/eajab.5.1.834 | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | Temperature plays an important role in the development and survival of insects. The
effects of temperature on the development of two cricket species, Acheta domesticus
and Gryllus bimaculatus were determined at six constant temperatures (18, 22, 26,
30, 34 and 380C). Parameters for stage-specific development such as fecundity,
weight and fat content, structural body size, sex ratio, development time, and
longevity were investigated. Relative humidity, light intensity, and photoperiod were
set at 60-90 %, 500 ± 25 Lux, and 12:12 L:D, respectively. The results indicated that
the duration of eggs and nymphal stages were significantly influenced by increased
temperature. The egg-to-adult developmental period of Acheta domesticus declined
from 200.5 days to 66.26 days as the temperature increased from 180C to 30 °C while
that for Gryllus bimaculatus decreased from 231.82 to 62.22 days as the temperature
increased from 18 to 34°C. The optimum temperature estimated for egg-to-adult
ranged from 26 ̊C to 34 ̊C. Longevity of both females and males was significantly
higher (female: F5, 401 = 7.5, P < 0.001; male: F5, 401 = 6.4, P < 0.001) at 18oC than
at other temperatures, with the shortest recorded for Acheta domesticus (female: 20.19
days; male: 26.67 days) and Gryllus bimaculatus (Females: 25.56 days; Males: 27.49
days) at 38oC. Fecundity was highest at 26°C (1360 eggs/female/generation) and
lowest at 18°C (101 eggs/female/generation) for Acheta domesticus. For Gryllus
bimaculatus, the highest fecundity was recorded at 30°C (1722
eggs/female/generation) and the lowest at 18°C (123 eggs/female/generation). The
optimal developmental temperature for crickets was determined to range from 26°C
to 34°C. Understanding the impacts of temperature on the development of crickets
would provide information on how climate change shapes insect ecologies and enable
the development of forecasting models. | en_US |
