title: The thermal constant of the onchocerciasis vector Simulium damnosum s.l. in West Africa.
abstract: The minimum water temperature for development (t(0)) and the thermal constant (K) for the development of immature stages of Simulium damnosum s.l. (Diptera: Simuliidae) in West Africa were estimated as 20.1 °C and 93 day-degrees, respectively, based on analyses of published data on development rates of eggs, larvae and pupae at different water temperatures (24.0 °C and 31.5 °C). Thus, at a constant water temperature of 30.0 °C (approximately 10 °C above t(0)), adult flies would emerge about 9 days after oviposition. Analysis of a dataset probably restricted to S. damnosum s.s., but for which the temperature for the egg stage varied, revealed a much lower t(0) (16.3 °C) and a much higher K (181 day-degrees), suggesting that the insects' thermal relations may be cytoform-specific. The results will aid control decisions and predictions of possible effects of climate change on sizes and geographic distributions of populations of onchocerciasis vectors in West Africa.
authors: Department of Agriculture, Health and Environment, Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich at Medway, Chatham Maritime, U.K. r.a.cheke@greenwich.ac.uk
authors: R A
authors: RA
authors: Cheke
mesh_terms: D000354:Africa, Western; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000635:transmission; D010063:Ovum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D011679:Pupa / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D012843:Simuliidae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D013696:Temperature