Temperature-Dependent Models of European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Development in North Carolina 1

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Abstract
The development rates of nondiapausing European corn borer (ECB), Oslrinia nubilalis (Hübner) eggs, larvae, and pupae were determined at the following constant temperatures: 15, 18, 20, 25, 30, 32, and 35°C. In each case, artificial diet, cornstalk sections, and snap bean pods were examined as larval hosts. Development rate vs. temperature curves were established for each host. Curves for artificial diet and snap bean pods were similar; the curve for corn indicated significantly slower ECB development, especially at higher temperatures. These curves were used in predictive models of ECB development. The models were validated by comparison with field cage studies of ECB development on corn, Irish potatoes, and curly dock. Models based on development data using artificial diet and snap bean pods as hosts closely tracked the actual ECB adult emergence from potatoes and dock, but ran fast when compared with ECB adult emergence from corn. Models based on development data using corn as a host ran slow compared with ECB adult emergence on all hosts. These host differences in development rate may have been due to the limiting effects of low moisture content in the corn plant tissues employed in the tests.