Mortality of Anthonomus grandis
In Texas, US, experiments were conducted to investigate the mortality of Anthonomus grandis (EPPO A1 pest) caused by heat. Mortality could be partitioned into two categories: desiccation and thermal death. At less than 3 h at temperatures of 55ø C only low mortality occured but a 99% mortality rate was reached during an exposure time of 2 h 18 min at 60ø C.
The authors suggest that this might explain the high mortality rate of A. grandis at some field locations and that simulation and forecasting models might be based on this knowledge.
Sources
Sterling, W.; Dean, A.; Hartstack, A.; Witz, J. (1990) Partitioning boll weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) mortality associated with high temperature: desiccation or thermal death?
Environmental Entomology 19, 1457-1462.