Effects of Temperature on the Development and Survival of Cricket Species; Acheta domesticus and Gryllus bimaculatus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

Temperature plays an important role in the development and survival of insects. The effects of temperature on the development of two cricket species, Acheta domesticus and Gryllus bimaculatus were determined at six constant temperatures (18, 22, 26, 30, 34 and 380C). Parameters for stage-specific development such as fecundity, weight and fat content, structural body size, sex ratio, development time, and longevity were investigated. Relative humidity, light intensity, and photoperiod were set at 60-90 %, 500 ± 25 Lux, and 12:12 L:D, respectively. The results indicated that the duration of eggs and nymphal stages were significantly influenced by increased temperature. The egg-to-adult developmental period of Acheta domesticus declined from 200.5 days to 66.26 days as the temperature increased from 180C to 30 °C while that for Gryllus bimaculatus decreased from 231.82 to 62.22 days as the temperature increased from 18 to 34°C. The optimum temperature estimated for egg-to-adult ranged from 26 ̊C to 34 ̊C. Longevity of both females and males was significantly higher (female: F5, 401 = 7.5, P < 0.001; male: F5, 401 = 6.4, P < 0.001) at 18oC than at other temperatures, with the shortest recorded for Acheta domesticus (female: 20.19 days; male: 26.67 days) and Gryllus bimaculatus (Females: 25.56 days; Males: 27.49 days) at 38oC. Fecundity was highest at 26°C (1360 eggs/female/generation) and lowest at 18°C (101 eggs/female/generation) for Acheta domesticus. For Gryllus bimaculatus, the highest fecundity was recorded at 30°C (1722 eggs/female/generation) and the lowest at 18°C (123 eggs/female/generation). The optimal developmental temperature for crickets was determined to range from 26°C to 34°C. Understanding the impacts of temperature on the development of crickets would provide information on how climate change shapes insect ecologies and enable the development of forecasting models.