The objective of this work was to study the biology and thermal requirement of Tetranychus ludeni Zacher (Acari: Tetranychidae) on leaves of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. r. latifolium (Hutch)). Bioclimatic chambers at 20, 23, 25, 28 and 30ºC, relative humidity of 70±10%, and a 12 hours:12 hours (L:D) photoperiod were utilized. Development period of eggadult, varied from 20.77 (20ºC) to 8.50 days (30ºC), for males and from 18.83 (20ºC) to 7.75 days (30ºC), for females. The threshold temperature of development, estimated by X intercession method for development period of eggadult were 14.05ºC, for females and 13.91ºC, for males. While those values of thermal constant estimated by Réamur law were 138.34 daydegrees for females and 130.91 daydegrees for males. At 30ºC of temperature, the highest values of the intrinsic rate of increase (0.418), number of eggs/females/day (3.47), fecundity (61.29), reproductive rate net (48.00), and minimum value to the mean generation time (9.27) were shown.
Gossypium hirsutum; thermoregulation; temperature
