Thermal requirement and development of Liriomyza sativae (Diptera: Agromyzidae) on cucumber.

The effect of temperature on developmental rate of vegetable leafminer, Liriomyza sativae Blanchard (Diptera: Agromyzidae), was determined at seven constant temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 degrees C) on cucumber, Cucumis sativus L. 'Negin'. The total developmental period (oviposition to adult emergence) decreased with increasing temperature, although no development occurred at 10 and 40 degrees C. Using the linear model, the estimated lower temperature threshold for the egg, larval, pupal, and entire developmental period was 9.20, 9.75. 11.01, and 10.20 degrees C and the effective accumulative temperatures for these stages were 64.10, 81.97, 106.38, and 250 degree-days (DD), respectively. Data also were fitted to nonlinear temperature-dependent models. Evaluation of the models was based on fit to data, number and biological value of the fitted coefficient, number of measurable parameters, and accuracy of the estimation of the thresholds. Conclusively, linear and Briere models are recommended as the most efficient for the description of temperature-dependent development of L. sativae. Temperature-based developmental data can be used to predict occurrence, number of generations, and possibly population dynamics.