Biological and Two-Sex Life Table Parameters of the Carob Moth, Apomyelois (=Ectomyelois) ceratoniae (Zeller, 1839) (Lep.: Pyralidae) at Various Constant Temperatures

Biological parameters and life tables are the most appropriate criteria for measuring a population’s adaptation to environmental and dietary circumstances. The effects of temperatures 10, 14, 20, 25, 27, 30, 33, and 35℃ on biological and life table parameters of the carob moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller) [a 10:14 hour (D: L cycle) and 65±5% RH] were experimentally studied. Based on the age-stage, two-sex life table theory, data were analyzed at different temperatures. The findings indicated that by increasing temperature, the mean incubation period of eggs, larvae, pupae, total immature development time, and adult longevity change significantly. The Adult Pre-Oviposition Periods (APOP) were 1.75, 1.93, 1.14, 1.06, 1.06, 1.09, 0.68, and 0.68 days, with Total Pre-Oviposition Period of (TPOP), 110.56, 93.82, 81.59, 42.8, 39.3, 33.96, 30, and 27.96 days at the experimental temperatures of 10, 14, 20, 25, 27, 30, 33, and 35℃, respectively. At the study temperature, the total life span was 121.22, 101.15, 88.82, 48.02, 44.55, 39.53, 34.83, and 32.73 days, respectively. The intrinsic rates of increase (r) were -0.0016 d-1 at 10℃ and 0.0085 d-1 at 30℃. The highest finite rate of population increase (λ) was 1.0086 at 30℃, and the minimum finite rate was 0.9915, at 35℃. At 35℃, the minimum mean generation Time (T) was 28.87 days. The net Reproductive rates (R0) were 0.83, 1.08, 1.1, 1.03, 1.03, 1.35, 1.02, and 0.78, at the experimental temperatures.