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The Reactions of Oxycarenus gossypinus Distant (Heteroptera, Lygaeidae) to Temperature and Relative Humidity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

F. K. Ewete
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
E. O. Osisanya
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
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Abstract

The distribution of Oxycarenus gossypinus Distant in artificial temperatures (16.5−40.5°C) and relative humidity gradients (20–95%) was studied in the laboratory. The fifth instar nymphs and adult females showed unimodal distribution to the hot end, a temperature range of 29.0−34.0°C and 31.5−37.0°C, respectively. The adult males showed bimodal distribution, one to the cool end, 19.0−24.0°C and the other to the hot end, 31.5−37.O°C. The adult females significantly moved to low relative humidity (20%) and the males moved in fairly large numbers to both low (20%) and high (95%) relative humidities at the ends of the apparatus with no significant difference in their distribution. O. gossypinus showed stronger response to thigmotaxis (movement to definite end for contact) than to relative humidity gradient, because of significant movement to the corners of the apparatus.

Résumé

La distribution de L'Oxycarenus gossypinus Distant dans la température artificielle (16.5−40.5°C) et les rangs de l'humidité relative (20−95%) furent étudiés dans le laboratoire. La cunquième nymphe et les femelles adultes montrèrent une distribution unimodale envers la partie chaude, avec une tempèrature de 29.0−34.0°C et 31.5−37.0°C respectivement. Les mâles adultes montrèrent une distribution bimodale, l'une envers la partie froide (19.0−24.0°C) et l'autre envers la partie chaude (31.5−37.0°C). Les femelles adultes bougèrent d'une manìére significative envers l'humidité relative basse (20%) alors que les mâles bougèrent dans un très grand nombre vers la basse (20%) et la haute (95%) humidité relative au bout de l'appareil sans différence significative dans leur distribution.

O. gossypinus manifesta une plus forte reaction à la thigmotaxis (mouvement à un bout déflnitif pour le contact) qu'au rang de l'humidité relative à cause du mouvement significatif aux coins des appareils.

Type
Research Articles
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1988

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References

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