Effects of temperature on the developmental biology of Thaumatotibia batrachopa

The macadamia nut borer, Thaumatotibia batrachopa, is one of the major pests of macadamia in South Africa. However, there is a lack of information on the effects of temperature on the developmental biology of this pest. We compared the effects of different constant temperatures on the pre-oviposition period, fecundity, mated adults' longevity, and development duration of the life stages. In addition, we determined the models that best illustrate temperature-dependent development rate and estimated thermal requirements. There was a significant variation between temperatures in all tested parameters. The pre-oviposition period, longevity, and development duration significantly increased with decreased temperature. The fecundity was highest at lower temperatures and lowest at higher temperatures. The T. batrachopa required 564.72 degree days to develop from egg to adult, with a Tmin of 10 degrees Celsius, Topt of 30 degrees Celsius, and Tmax of 36 degrees Celsius. Our findings align with the general trend of development duration, which increases with decreased temperatures. The degree days from our study will provide an accurate prediction of T. batrachopa phenology based on field temperatures and have various implications for managing this pest.