Abstract: To determine the influence of high temperature shock on the survival characteristics and population development of N. californicus, the hatching rate, survival rate and developmental duration were investigated after the eggs, larvae and adults of N. californicus were exposed to high temperatures (35, 38, 42, 45 ℃) for 1-8 h. The results showed that with higher temperature and longer time, the survival rate of eggs and larvae would be lower, and their developmental duration declined firstly and then increased. The hatching rate of eggs treated at 42 ℃ for 8 h was significantly lower than that at 35 ℃ for 8 h. The developmental duration of egg (4.1 d) was shortest when treated at 38 ℃ for 8 h. The egg couldn’t hatch when treated at 45 ℃ for 2 h. The survival rate of larvae which was treated at 45 ℃ for 4 h was significantly lower than that at 35 ℃ for 4 h, and the larvae wouldn’t survive when treated at 45 ℃ for 8 h. The spawning period and total eggs of female adults increased firstly and then decreased. The egglaying amount of a female N. californicus was 38.9, 36.7 and 14.5 at 35, 38 and 45 ℃, respectively. High temperature exposure had significant effects on the egg hatching rate, survival rate and development duration of N. californicus, but had little effect on the preoviposition and survival rate of the adults.