ABSTRACT
Temperature dependence of boll weevil reproductive development was examined at constant temperatures of 12.8, 18.3, 23.9, and 29.4°C and a 13:11 h [L:D] photoperiod by dissecting weevils at specified ages. Logistic curves were fitted to age-frequencies of the presence of eggs, eggs with yolk, mature eggs, early reproductive testes (beginning of visible sperm accumulation in the centers of testis lobes), later reproductive testes (visible sperm accumulation in outer areas of testicular folicles), and filled seminal vesicles. Considerable variation was observed in reproductive development within temperature regimes, but logistic curves generally fit the data well (r²>0.94) except at 12.8°C (0.652≤r²≤0.950). We observed a marked temperature dependence of boll weevil reproductive development. Exposure to lower temperatures did not induce morphological characteristics of diapause. These results suggest that results of earlier studies of diapause induction should be reexamined because of previous failures to account for differences in physiological ages of weevils among experimental treatments.
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