Abstract

Teneral adults of Dinoderus porcellus were raised in the laboratory and exposed to various temperature regimes 10⁰, 15^0, 20⁰, 30⁰, 35⁰ and 40⁰ C respectively. Four dried yam species Dioscorea rotundata, Dioscorea alata, Dioscorea dumetorum and Dioscorea cayenensis were used, to determine the effect of temperature on oviposition and developmental stages of the insect. At 10⁰C, there was no oviposition, at 15⁰ C fewer eggs were laid. Oviposition increases with little variation as temperature increases from 20⁰C 30⁰C. There is reduction in the number of eggs laid at 35⁰C , while zero oviposition was recorded at 40⁰ C. Egg incubation ranges between 6 to 8 days and there were significance difference (P<0.05) in the developmental period of larva and no significance difference (P<0.05) at the pupal stage. However, developmental period was prolonged on Dioscorea cayenensis as temperature increases.

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