Life table studies were conducted to assess the effect of constant temperature on the rate of population growth of the cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti Matile‐Ferrero. Four temperatures, between 20 and 30.5 °C, were tested. An inverse relationship was observed between temperature and most demographic parameters. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) increased from 0.1 at 20 °C to 0.2 at 27 °C and 30.5 °C. The net reproductive rate varied between 426.3 at 30.5 °C and 584.7 at 20 °C. The mealybug population reached 50% mortality after 37.5, 21.5, 19.0 and 19.0 days respectively at 20, 23.5, 27 and 30.5 °C. The results indicate that P. manihoti can persist and increase in numbers within the range between 20 and 30.5 °C.

Temperature; Growth Rate; Cassava; Phenacoccus Manihoti; Life Tables; Manihot Esculenta

Africa; West Africa

Nigeria