Investigating the Cross Stage Impacts of High Temperatures During Egg Development in Gryllodes sigillatus

Temperature significantly influences metabolism and growth in insects. Most insects are ectotherms, animals that do not produce useful body heat internally and whose body temperature closely matches their environmental temperature. While previous studies have primarily examined the impacts of short-term stressful changes in temperature or constant temperature exposure throughout all life stages, the extent to which early thermal history affects cross-stage development remains unclear. Addressing this knowledge gap, we distributed the eggs of a commercially-relevant cricket species raised as food and feed, Gryllodes sigillatus, across a thermal gradient ranging from 22°C to 40°C to assess relative hatching success and rate. It was indicated that higher temperatures (above the optimal 32°C) resulted in an increased hatching rate, while treatment groups with lower temperatures had a slower hatching rate or failed to do so. Further, decreased performance was observed for the highest temperature group (39°C), showing that the thermal limit was not achieved. A better understanding of these interactions with temperature will allow for more informed decisions for commercial rearing conditions.