Temperature and the energetics of development in the house cricket (Acheta domesticus)

The influence of rearing temperature on the energetics of development was investigated in house crickets (Acheta domesticus). Crickets raised at 25 °C grew slower (0.51 mg d−1, dry mass basis) and took longer to develop (119 d) but obtained a greater adult body mass (61 mg, dry mass) than crickets reared at 28 °C (0.99 mg d−1, 49 d, 48 mg). Total metabolic energy consumed during development at 25 °C (1351 J) was twice that at 28 °C (580 J) primarily because of the longer development period, and as a consequence the specific net cost of growth was much greater for crickets reared at 25 °C (22.1 kJ g−1) than 28 °C (11.9 kJ g−1).