مقایسه‌ی پارامترهای جدول زندگی سوسک میوه خوار خرما، Carpophilus hemipterus در دماهای مختلف

The dried-fruit beetle Carpophilus hemipterus Linnaeus (Nitidulidae) is a cosmopolitan pest that is found on plants, fruits, dry fruits, and grains in storage. This beetle is one of the most important pests in stored dates and is considered one of the limiting factors of Iran's date export. In this laboratory research, to determine the life table parameters at two temperatures (27 and 31 degrees Celsius (± 1), both at a complete period of darkness and 65% (±10%) relative humidity), the beetles were allowed to lay eggs. After hatching the eggs and completing the immature stage on Medjool dates variety, the adult male and female emerged were introduced in pairs into suitable containers. The survival and fecundity was then determined daily until the death of all adult females. Based on the obtained results, the net reproduction rate (R0), gross reproduction rate (GRR), intrinsic rate of increase (rm), finite rate of increase (λ), mean generation time (T) and doubling time of one generation (DT) at the temperature of 27 ºC were 76.6315 (female offspring/female/generation), 140.2711 (female offspring/female/generation), 0.1203 (female offspring/female/day), 1.1278 (female offspring/ female/day), 36.3960 (day) and 5.7642 (day), respectively, and the mentioned values at the temperature of 31 ºC were obtained 43.8893, 119.31177, 0.1148, 1.1217, 32.9301 and 6.0367, respectively. The comparison of each parameter of the life table at two temperatures (using the statistical test T-test) showed that all these parameters were significantly different from each other (P < 0.05). By comparing the rm values, we can conclude that the temperature of 27 degrees Celsius is more favorable for the growth and reproduction of this pest. Considering the high temperature of Khuzestan groves during the activity period of this beetle in nature, it seems this pest can more easily provide a suitable temperature for growth due to its terrestrial nature. According to the results of the present study, which shows a decrease in the growth and reproduction of the beetle at a higher temperature (31°C), the use of the heating method for disinfection of stored dates, as long as would not be harmful to the warehouse product, can be tested as a controlling method.