Cold Tolerance in Melittobia Digitata
Faculty Sponsor
Dr. Mike Sardinia
Session Type
Poster Presentation
Research Project Abstract
Female Melittobia digitata that parasitize blowfly pupae are used commercially to control fly populations. It is unknown what the range of suitable ambient temperatures is for the developing wasps and what manner of resilience the larval and pupal wasps have to changing temperatures. The experiment had parasitized blowfly pupae in ambient temperature setups of -20 Celsius, 5 Celsius, 21 Celsius, and 25 Celsius. Contrary to the literature, wasps reached adulthood first in the 25 Celsius setup, not the “room temperature”, or 21 Celsius, setup. Additionally, the 5 Celsius setup once moved to the 25 Celsius environment were able to continue developing to adulthood.
Session Number
PS2
Location
HUB Multipurpose Room
Abstract Number
PS2-m
Cold Tolerance in Melittobia Digitata
HUB Multipurpose Room
Female Melittobia digitata that parasitize blowfly pupae are used commercially to control fly populations. It is unknown what the range of suitable ambient temperatures is for the developing wasps and what manner of resilience the larval and pupal wasps have to changing temperatures. The experiment had parasitized blowfly pupae in ambient temperature setups of -20 Celsius, 5 Celsius, 21 Celsius, and 25 Celsius. Contrary to the literature, wasps reached adulthood first in the 25 Celsius setup, not the “room temperature”, or 21 Celsius, setup. Additionally, the 5 Celsius setup once moved to the 25 Celsius environment were able to continue developing to adulthood.
