Effects of high temperature on body size and weight of<i>Ophraella communa</i>

Abstract

Ophraella communa LeSage (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is an effective biological control agent of the invasive common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. Body size, one of the most important life-history characters for many insects, affects O. communa mating choice. Temperature is one of the most important factors on body size, especially high temperatures. Adult body lengths were significantly inhibited after eggs, larvae and pupae of O. communa experienced high temperature stresses. With exception of subsequent female body after exposure of larvae to high temperatures, the body weights of females and males were not affected by temperatures. Since adult insect fecundities are often in proportion to their body sizes, we concluded that high temperatures may influence the population expansion of O. communa in the field.