EFFECT OF DIFFERENT CONSTANT TEMPERATURE DEGREES ON DEVELOPMENT OF TOMATO LOOPER, Chrysodeixis chalcites (ESPER)

The present study was carried out to study the effect of three constant temperatures (20, 25 and 30°C each ±1°C and 65±5 % R.H.) on Chrysodeixis chalcites (Esper). The duration period of immature stages, preoviposition, postoviposition periods and life cycle of C. chalcites were significantly affected by different temperatures. The thresholds of development (t0) were 4.8, 2.7 and 4.6 °C for eggs, larvae and pupae, respectively. The thresholds of development (t0) of life cycle and generation were 3.7 and 4.3 °C, respectively. Also, the thresholds of development (t0) were 9.8, 10, 5.4 and 4.7 °C for female longevity, male longevity, female life span and male life span, respectively.