Data from: Effect of temperature on the biological parameters of the cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae

The cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae Linnaeus is a pest of many plants
of the Brassicaceae family including cabbage, Brassica olearacae Linnaeus,
1753. We investigated the effect of temperature on the biological
parameters of B. brassicae using different temperature-based models
incorporated in the Insect Life Cycle Modelling software (ILCYM). Nymphs
of first stage were individually placed in the incubators successively set
at 10C, 15C, 20C, 25C, 30C, and 350C; 75±5% RH and L12: D12 hours
photoperiods. We found that 1st nymph reached the adult stage after
18.45±0.04 days (10°C), 10.37±0.26 days (15°C), 6.42±0.07 days (20°C),
5.076±0.09 days (25°C) and 5.05±0.10 days (30°C); and failed at 35°C. The
lower lethal temperatures for B. brassicae were 1.64C, 1.57C, 1.56C, and
1.62°C with a thermal constant for development of 0.88, 0.87, and 0.08,
0.79 degree/day for nymph I, II, III and IV respectively. The temperature
10, 30 and 35°C were more lethal than 15, 20 and 25°C. Longevity was
highest at 10°C (35.07±1.38 days). Fertility was nil at 30°C and highest
at 20°C (46.36±1.73 nymphs/female). The stochastic simulation of the
models obtained from the precedent biological parameters revealed that the
life table parameters of B. brassiace were affected by the temperature.
The net reproduction rate was highest at 20°C and lowest at 30°C. The
average generation time decreased from 36.85±1.5 days (15°C) to 6.86±0.1
days (30°C); the intrinsic rate of increase and the finite rate of
increase were highest at 25°C. In general, the life cycle data and
mathematical functions obtained in this study clearly illustrate the
effect of temperature on the biology of B. brassicae. This knowledge will
contribute to predicting the changes that may occur in a population of B.
Brassiace in response to temperature variation.