Understanding the thermal biology of macadamia nut borer, Thaumato(bia batrachopa (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae): a pest of macadamia in South Africa
type: CreativeWork
description: Responses and adaptaSon of Thaumato<bia batrachopa to environmental changes and the impact of how it responds and perhaps adapts to these changes and fluctuaSons are complex subjects. Thaumato<bia batrachopa’s life stages, body temperatures, and various life cycle occurrences schedules are primarily influenced by temperature and other ecological factors. There is currently no evidence on the role of temperature on the development duraSon of T. batrachopa life stages, nor the outcomes regarding developmental rates and thermal responses. Understanding the mechanisms through which the temperature affects T. batrachopa’s life stages should contribute to developing a model of the potenSal responses of this pest to climate change. Thermal biology studies should reveal the thermal breadth of T. batrachopa, which can be applied to current and future climate scenarios to plan and execute integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. Therefore, we aimed to explore the thermal biology of T. batrachopa, to build up some knowledge on the impact of temperature on populaSon phenology and predict the temperature-dependent populaSon abundance at short and intermediate Sme scales in this study. This was achieved through the following objecSves; i) To study the effects of temperature on the development rate of T. batrachopa life stages by monitoring temperature-dependent development duraSon from egg to adult stage, sex raSo, longevity, and fecundity of adults under a range of constant temperatures, ii) To determine thermal tolerance responses of T. batrachopa life stages, establishing criScal thermal limits (CTLs) in response to acclimaSon, lethal limits, and heat and cold hardening, and iii) To evaluate degree day models for T. batrachopa, predicSng generaSons it can complete in the orchards, and invesSgate linkages between variability of microclimaSc data and populaSon dynamics of T. batrachopa in macadamia orchards at different climate zones. Effects of temperature on the developmen…
abstract: Responses and adaptaSon of Thaumato<bia batrachopa to environmental changes and the impact of how it responds and perhaps adapts to these changes and fluctuaSons are complex subjects. Thaumato<bia batrachopa’s life stages, body temperatures, and various life cycle occurrences schedules are primarily influenced by temperature and other ecological factors. There is currently no evidence on the role of temperature on the development duraSon of T. batrachopa life stages, nor the outcomes regarding developmental rates and thermal responses. Understanding the mechanisms through which the temperature affects T. batrachopa’s life stages should contribute to developing a model of the potenSal responses of this pest to climate change. Thermal biology studies should reveal the thermal breadth of T. batrachopa, which can be applied to current and future climate scenarios to plan and execute integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. Therefore, we aimed to explore the thermal biology of T. batrachopa, to build up some knowledge on the impact of temperature on populaSon phenology and predict the temperature-dependent populaSon abundance at short and intermediate Sme scales in this study. This was achieved through the following objecSves; i) To study the effects of temperature on the development rate of T. batrachopa life stages by monitoring temperature-dependent development duraSon from egg to adult stage, sex raSo, longevity, and fecundity of adults under a range of constant temperatures, ii) To determine thermal tolerance responses of T. batrachopa life stages, establishing criScal thermal limits (CTLs) in response to acclimaSon, lethal limits, and heat and cold hardening, and iii) To evaluate degree day models for T. batrachopa, predicSng generaSons it can complete in the orchards, and invesSgate linkages between variability of microclimaSc data and populaSon dynamics of T. batrachopa in macadamia orchards at different climate zones. Effects of temperature on the developmen…
author: Mulateli, Thifhelimbilu
language: en
keywords: UCTD
date published: 2025-09-05
date modified: 2026-07-27T21:57:35Z
provider: University of Venda
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Venda