Effects of cold storage on the developmental biology of Tenebrio molitor L., 1758 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) at different larval stages

Abstract

Being able to store insects at low temperature is important in the mass breeding of insects for commercial purposes. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of cold storage on pupal and adult weight, adult emergence time and proportion and adult deformation proportion of different weight Tenebrio molitor L., 1758 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) larvae. This study was conducted between 2018-2019 in the Biology Laboratory of Science Teaching Department, Sinop University. Trials were performed at 27 ± 2 and 4ºC, 65 ± 5% RH and continuous darkness. After the larvae began to form, they were weighed and divided into three groups according to their weight. They were exposed to 4ºC for 5, 10, 20, 30 and 60 d in separate Petri dishes. With increased cold storage time, the proportion of deformation increased and the proportion of adult emergence decreased. Adult weight, pupal weight and longevity depended on both larval weight and cold exposure time. In conclusion, it is recommended that mass producers or researchers pay attention to the size of the larvae and the cold exposure times to obtain the best quality product and high production efficiency.