High thermal tolerance displayed by the ladybeetle Harmonia axyridis in Kuwait

Present study was undertaken to investigate the ability of Harmonia axyridis to survive temperatures greater than the previously reported maximum of 30°C by evaluating the effects of three temperatures (12, 25, and 36.7°C) on H. axyridis development and sex ratio. The results revealed that temperature affects the life history traits of H. axyridis and that H. axyridis has a high thermal tolerance. However, the manifestations of the species’ thermal tolerance differed, to some extent, across treatments. In particular, the 36.7°C treatment had a substantial influence on sex ratio and biased the sex ratio towards females, which may function to maximize egg production, thereby improving survival under stressful conditions.