Sunflower (Helianthus annuus, Asteraceae) is an economic crop cultivated worldwide. The ragweed leaf beetle (RLB; Ophraella communa LeSage) has been reported as a pest of sunflower. This study investigated the life history of RLBs on sunflower under laboratory conditions at two temperatures (25°C and 30°C). The objectives of this study were to investigate the optimal temperature range for the development of RLBs on sunflower and to determine the effect of temperature on both sexes of RLBs at the immature stages and adult RLBs. The sex of RLBs at the immature stages was identified based on the emerging adult, and the data recorded were separated accordingly. The study results revealed that the developmental period was shorter at 25°C (male RLBs: 33.48 ± 0.27 days, female RLBs: 33.33 ± 0.38 days) than at 30°C (male RLBs: 28.50 ± 0.40 days, female RLBs: 26.88 ± 0.43 days), and that the period exhibited no statistical difference between the sexes at the same temperature. The survival rate per stage was higher at 25°C (26% ± 2.92%) than at 30°C (20.77% ± 2.52%), which decreased with an increase in age. The total fecundity of RLBs on sunflower was higher at 25°C (270.63 ± 20.88 eggs) than at 30°C (109.77 ± 15.89 eggs). These results demonstrated that 25°C had the most favorable effects on the life history of RLBs on sunflower.
向日葵(Helianthus annuus)屬菊科植物(Asteraceae)為世界上重要的經濟作物。豬草金花蟲(RLB,Ophraella communa)是向日葵上有記載的潛在害蟲。本研究在兩種不同溫度(25°C和30°C)下研究豬草金花蟲取食向日葵的生活史。本研究的目的是確認豬草金花蟲在向日葵上發育的有利溫度,並確定溫度對未成熟期的生長、發育和成蟲壽命及繁殖的影響。結果顯示在30°C時其發育所需時間比在25°C短,經統計分析具差異顯著性,在相同溫度下雌雄蟲之發育時間長度則不具統計差異性。25°C定溫下各齡期的存活率均高於30°C;餵食向日葵的豬草金花蟲於25°C時總產卵量達270.63粒,而30°C時僅109.77粒,具統計差異顯著性。由以上結果顯示25°C對向日葵上的豬草金花蟲生活史具有利的影響。