Effect of temperature on the life cycle of Euspilotus azureus (Coleoptera: Histeridae), a predator of forensic importance
Keywords:
development time, histerid, medico-legal entomology, phenotypic plasticity,Abstract
Euspilotus azureus (Sahlberg, 1823) (Coleoptera: Histeridae) is one of the most frequently sampled species of Histeridae on carcasses in South America. Determining its physiological responses to different temperatures is essential for providing development rate equations to estimate the period of insect activity and postmortem interval of the body. Thus, to evaluate the influence of temperature on their life cycle and to understand their developmental threshold, experiments were conducted under laboratory conditions at 6 different temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 °C). All E.azureus life stages were responsive to thermal variations. Eggs of E. azureus did not hatch at extreme temperatures (10 and 35 °C) and the development time from egg to adult was longer at low temperatures (15 and 20 °C). Their biological responses, such as mean number of eggs produced, the number of eggs per egg mass, and development time at different temperatures, indicate that 20 to 25 °C is optimal for growth. The results suggest that E. azureus shows tolerance and adaptability in its ontogenetic stages over a wide temperature range, which is common in generalist species. Also, this study provides the development rate equation for the species, which is applicable to studies of forensic entomology.
Resumo
Euspilotus azureus (Sahlberg, 1823) (Coleoptera: Histeridae) é um dos histerídeos mais frequentemete coletados em carcaças na América do Sul. Suas respostas fisiológicas em diferentes temperaturas são imprescindíveis para obtenção de equações de desenvolvimento aplicáveis na estimative do intervalo pós-morte e/ou período de atividade do inseto no cadáver. Com o objetivo de avaliar a influência da temperatura no ciclo de vida e conhecer os seus limiares térmicos, os experimentos foram desenvolvidos em seis temperaturas (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, e 35 °C). Como esperado, todos os estágios se mostram amplamente responsivos às variações térmicas. Os ovos não eclodiram em temperaturas extremas (10 e 35 °C). O tempo de desenvolvimento de ovo a adulto e a longevidade foram maiores em temperaturas mais baixas. A média de oviposição, ovos por postura e tempo de desenvolvimento indicam que as temperturas de 20–25 °C são as mais favoráveis para a espécie. Os resultados sugerem que os estágios ontogenéticos de E. azureus apresentam tolerância e adaptabilidade em uma amplitude de temperaturas, o que é comum em espécies generalistas. Além disso, o presente estudo provém equações de desenvolvimento para a espécie aplicáveis na entomologia forense.
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