Humidity dependent population growth of the psocid,Liposcelis yunnaniensis (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae)

We investigated the effect of four different humidities on population growth of the psocid liposcelis yunnaniensis (psocoptera: liposcelididae). the four different relative humidities used were 43,55,63,and 75%,respectively. in a 30-d period the initial four female psocids increased to the mean populations of 24±5.72 on 75% humidity and 21±3.45 on 63% humidity. the psocids developing on the humidity of 43 and 55% showed no increase in their population and all the adult female psocids died. the results showed that population growth was highest on higher humidities and the lower humidities of 43 and 55% lead to the death of the insects. according to the analysis of variance there was no significant difference in the population growth between the higher humidities of 75% and 63% rh. an analysis was also done with respect to the psocids placement in 4 different compartments of the incubator from top to bottom. it was found that there was no statistical difference in population growth of the psocids in different chambers of the desiccators which could be due to any variation in temperature inside the incubator. psocid population growth is explained graphically with respect to different humidities and its placement on different heights of incubator. copyright 2013 zoological society of pakistan.