Incidence of tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Telangana (India)

Abstract

A study was taken up to know the incidence of Tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta in summer and kharif seasons of 2015-16 and 2016-17 in different districts of Telangana. Results revealed that leaf and fruit damage were more in summer crop compared to kharif crop, in general. During kharif maximum leaf damage was lower (11.7%) with no fruit damage. Roving surveys amongst different villages of six districts indicated infestation levels of 5-90% with maximum at Mahboobnagar and Adilabad districts and minimum in Medak and Waranagal districts. Trap catches were also higher in summer season (4-90 adults/trap/week) over kharif (0-50 adults/trap/week) season. Correlative analyses of leaf and fruit damage during summer with weather variables indicated positive association with maximum and minimum temperature, evening relative humidity, rainfall and rainy days, sunshine hours, wind speed and evaporation and negative association with morning relative humidity.