Effects of Temperature and Intraspecific Interaction on the Development of <I>Dermestes maculatus</I> (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)

Abstract

Studies were conducted to determine development rates of of Dermestes maculatus DeGeer at temperatures of 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 degrees C. No individuals completed development to the adult stage at 15 degrees C. For the other temperatures, survivorship ranged from 9.3% at 20 degrees C to 36% at 35 degrees C. Time required for development varied inversely with temperature from a mean of 89.7 d at 20 degrees C to 36.4 d at 35 degrees C. For specimens held individually, survivorship was higher at 25 and 30 degrees C, i.e., 83.2 and 60.2%, respectively. No specimens held individually at 35 degrees C survived past the first larval instar. Mortality during the egg stage at 25 and 30 degrees C was 4.52-5.23%, whereas mortality during the first instar was significantly higher for the individuals held at 30 degrees C and 100% for those at 35 degrees C. There was an inverse relation observed between larval density and both survivorship and mean adult weights.