Life history parameters of the leucaena psyllid Heteropsylla cubana (Crawford) (Homoptera: Psyllidae) under various temperature and relative humidity regimes

The leucaena psyllid, Heteropsylla cubana, was studied under constant temperatures ranging from 21.5 to 35.0 degrees C. Total mean development time was 11.2, 9.6 and 8.1 days at 21.5, 25.0 and 30.0 degrees C respectively. For these temperatures, the mean number of eggs laid was 532.3, 758.3 and 374.7 with hatch rates of over 90%. At 35.0 degrees C, a mean of only 4.5 eggs/female were laid in 24 h, egg hatch (9.0%) was very low and nymphs did not complete their development Nymphal survival was only 65% at 30.0 degrees C, compared to 84.2 and 87.6% at 21.5 and 25.5 degrees C, respectively. Adult longevity was highest at 25.0 degrees C; females outlived males at all temperatures Age-specific life table statistics are given for the three temperatures The calculated intrinsic rates of natural increase (r(m)) at 21.5, 25.0 and 30.0 degrees C were 0.226, 0.293 and 0.324 respectively. Relative humidities in the range of 25 to 84% did not affect egg hatching, nymphal survival, or adult emergence of H. cubana.