Assessing the lower thermal limits for development, fecundity and survival in Anisandrus maiche ( K urentzov)

Abstract Anisandrus maiche is an emerging ambrosia beetle pest that attacks forest, ornamental, and fruit and nut trees, yet little is known about its developmental biology or thermal thresholds for reproduction. Characterizing thermal ranges for insect pests is critical for understanding range expansion, guiding management strategies and building predictive models. Single female A. maiche were placed in artificial diet rearing tubes and allowed to develop for up to 10 weeks at constant 10, 14 or 18°C. No development occurred at 10°C, although foundress females survived for up to 8 weeks under these conditions. At 14°C, only a single egg was recovered at 5 weeks, with no other developmental stages observed. Complete development occurred at 18°C, with eggs appearing as early as 2 weeks post‐introduction and all life stages appearing at 8 weeks, indicating that some development occurs at 14°C, whereas full development occurs somewhere between 14°C and 18°C. Results from this experiment define thermal minimums required for A. maiche development and reproduction. This information is the first step for understanding the developmental biology of A. maiche and can be used to support degree‐day‐based models and improve management timing for this emerging ambrosia beetle pest.