Geographic variation in thermal tolerance of western corn rootworm.

Western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, is one of the most economically important crop pests in the world with estimates of damage and control costing over $1 billion USD annually. Yet despite an abundance of research devoted to studying rootworm biology in the central Corn Belt of the United States, information on key aspects of their thermal biology is still lacking. In this study, we quantified thermal metrics of western corn rootworm populations from across their range in the United States: we measured critical thermal limits, knock-down resistance, and chill coma recovery for male and female rootworm from 13 laboratory colonies that were collected across 1985 km at locations that varied by up to 5.

Effects of short-term heat stress on the thermal tolerance of western corn rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

Insect responses to warming temperatures are determined partly by their physiology, which is influenced by genetic factors and plasticity induced by past temperature exposure. The effect that prior high temperature exposure has on insect thermal tolerance is complex and depends on the degree of heat stress experienced; high heat exposure may allow for individuals to tolerate higher temperatures through hardening or may reduce an individual's capacity to withstand higher temperatures through accumulated heat stress. In this study, we assessed how short exposures to high temperatures and a laboratory colony's geographical origin affected the critical thermal maximum (CTmax) of western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte), an economically important pest.

Temperature influences desiccation resistance of bumble bees.

Ongoing climate change has increased temperatures and the frequency of droughts in many parts of the world, potentially intensifying the desiccation risk for insects. Because resisting desiccation becomes more difficult at higher temperatures and lower humidity, avoiding water loss is a key challenge facing terrestrial insects. However, few studies have examined the interactive effects of temperature and environmental humidity on desiccation resistance in insects.

Thermal tolerance of western corn rootworm: Critical thermal limits, knock-down resistance, and chill coma recovery.

Western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, is one of the most economically important crop pests in the world with estimates of damage and control approximating over $1 billion USD annually. Despite an abundance of research devoted to studying rootworm biology in the central Corn Belt of the United States, key aspects on their thermal ecology are still lacking. Here we address this knowledge gap by measuring critical thermal limits, knock-down resistance, and chill coma recovery.