A Temperature-Dependent Model for Fall Armyworm Development1,2

Abstract

The influence of temperature on egg-to-adult developmental times and rates of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), was studied in the laboratory at a variety of constant and variable temperatures. Mean total developmental time ranged from 66.6 days (15.6°C) to 18.4 days (35.0°C). Male and female development times were not significantly different. Means and standard deviations of fall armyworm developmental rates (= times−1) were inputs into a previously derived absolute reaction rate model designed to generate a set of kinetic constants usable in predicting developmental times. The distribution of cohort developmental times was compared to predictions from an existing stochastic cohort model and was found to be in reasonable agreement at all temperatures tested.