Developmental biology and demographic parameters of antestia bug Antestiopsis thunbergii (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), on Coffea arabica (Rubiaceae) at different constant temperatures

The antestia bug Antestiopsis thunbergii (Gmelin 1790) is a major coffee pest in East Africa. Nymphs and adults feed on all vegetative and fruiting parts of the coffee tree leading to yield reduction and poor quality of coffee beans. Our study aimed to characterize the developmental biology and provide life table parameters for A. thunbergii reared in the laboratory. The biology of A. thunbergii was studied at four constant temperatures of 20,25, 30 and 35°C with 80 ± 5% RH and a photoperiod of L:D 12:12. Complete development of A. thunbergii from egg to adult occurred between 20 and 30°C, while eggs did not hatch at 35°C. Immature stage development time decreased significantly with an increase in temperature, with the exception of fifth nymphal stage, duration of which was similar for all temperatures. The fecundity was maximal at 20°C with an average of 132.8 eggs per female and 1.7 egg per female per day. The gross reproductive rate (GRR) was the highest at 20°C with 75.79 daughters per female compared to 19.56 and 2.69 daughters per female at 25 and 30°C, respectively. The intrinsic rate of increase r was maximal at 20°C with 0.013 and negative at 30°C. The time required for the reared population to double (doubling time Td) was shorter at 20°C with 53.31 days compared to 115.52 days at 25°C. Our study provides basic information on A. thunbergii biology that will contribute to a better understanding of the pest distribution and dynamics on arabica coffee in East Africa.