Multigenerational Effects of Short-Term High Temperature on the Development and Reproduction of the Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett, 1899)

Zeugodacus cucurbitae is an important pest of fruit and vegetable crops in tropical and subtropical regions, and high-temperature stress can have different effects on the development and reproduction of successive generations of Z. cucurbitae. To clarify the multigenerational effects of short-time high temperature on the development and reproduction of Z. cucurbitae, the newly emerged adults of the contemporary (F-1 generation) and the next generation (F-2 generation) were exposed to short-term high temperatures of 25 degrees C, 33 degrees C, 37 degrees C, 41 degrees C, and 45 degrees C for 1 h, and the multigenerational (F-1, F-2, and F-3 generation) effects of these temperatures on the development and reproduction of Z. cucurbitae were evaluated. The results showed that (1) when the F-1 was exposed to short-term high temperature, the egg production and lifespan of the F-1 decreased continuously with the increasing temperature, except for the 45 degrees C treatment for 1 h, which stimulated egg production. Only the 41 degrees C group had significantly higher egg production and lifespan than the control group in the F-3. (2) In the F-1 and F-2 that were exposed to short-term high temperature, the F-1 and F-3 were consistent with the results of F-1 that were exposed to short-term high temperature. In conclusion, the effects of high-temperature intensity and frequency on multiple generations of Z. cucurbitae were different. The results of this study can elucidate the effects of short-term high-temperature stress on the growth, development, and reproduction of Z. cucurbitae in different generations, and provide a reference basis for the integrated control of Z. cucurbitae.