Effect of Light on the Temperature Preferendum of Larvae of the Mexican Bean Beetle, Epilachna Varivestis

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Abstract
Second-instar larvae were allowed to find their preferred temperature on a circular thermal gradient disc, under conditions of 40-foot-candle and of 1-footcandle illumination. Tests in dim light were made with 1,633 insects, in bright light with 1,052, and each individual was used once only. In dim light the preferred temperature was between 70° and 75° F.; in bright light the preference was less pronounced, and between 90° and 100°. Differences in pretreatment or in the evaporation rate during tests (the only other experimental variables) appeared to have no bearing on the shift of temperature preference, and a statistical test indicated little likelihood of correctly attributing the observed result to a sampling error. Two possible conclusions are suggested: (1) the temperature preferendum for this insect in this stage may be altered by light conditions and therefore is not completely related to, or identical with, the temperature optimum, or (2) the temperature optimum may be changed with changing light.

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