Effects of different temperatures on the total carbohydrate, lipid and protein amounts of the bean beetle, Acanthoscelides obtectus Say (Coleoptera: Bruchidae).

This study investigates the effects of different temperatures on the total carbohydrate, lipid and protein amounts of Acanthoscelides obtectus Say, which is a common cereal pest. Studies have been carried out under laboratory conditions at 20 +/- 2 degrees C, 30 +/- 2 degrees C and 60 +/- 5% relative humidity. No specific photoperiodic regimen has been used throughout the study. Total carbohydrate, protein and lipid amounts for females at 20 degrees C were 61.74, 35.77 and 83.79 microg/individual, respectively, whereas the amounts for males were 34.94, 29.53 and 57.98 microg/individual, respectively. At 30 degrees C, total carbohydrate, protein and lipid amounts for females were 92.00, 42.18 and 83.26 microg/individual, respectively. The amounts at the same temperature for males were 43.34, 34.08 and 52.19 microg/individual, respectively. In both sexes, total carbohydrate and protein amounts at 30 degrees C were higher than those at 20 degrees C whereas this was not true for total lipid amounts.