Kfir, R., & Luck, R.F. 1984 Effects of temperature and relative humidity on developmental rate and adult life span of three Aphytis species (Hym. Aphelinidae) parasitising California red scale.. Zeitschrift für Angewandte Entomologie 97: 314-320.

Notes: The effects of five constant temperatures from 21 to 32 degreesC on the duration and rate of development and the effects of three relative humidities (10, 40 and 70%) on the adult life span of Aphytis chrysomphali (Mercet), A. lingnanensis Compere and A. melinus DeBach were determined with Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell) as host. A. chrysomphali failed to emerge at 32 degrees C and its duration of development was the shortest at all other temperatures. The developmental time of A. lingnanensis was shorter than that of A. melinus at 32, longer at 21 and the same at 24 and 29 degreesC. The calculated threshold temperatures for development and the thermal constants (day-degrees) for A. chrysomphali, A. lingnanensis and A. melinus were 5.91 and 263 43, 9.09 and 237 52, and 6 77 degreesC and 272.76 respectively. Adults of A. chrysomphali found to be the most susceptible to low relative humidities and high temperatures. A. lingnanensis was more susceptible than A. melinus to these conditions but it lived longer than A. melinus at low temperatures and high relative humidity.