Biology of tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on different host plants

Abstract

South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) is the emerging invasive pest on tomato and other crops in India. Biology of T. absoluta was carried out on three solanaceous hosts viz., tomato, potato and brinjal. Tomato was the most preferred host followed by potato and brinjal for its development. Number of eggs laid per female was significantly more in tomato (151.31 eggs) followed by potato (57.26 eggs) and brinjal (34.5 eggs), respectively. Similarly, egg hatching was fastest in tomato (4.57days) followed by potato (4.91days) and brinjal (6.12 days). The four instars duration of T. absoluta on tomato (2.31, 2.29, 3.28, 3.26), potato (2.92, 2.90, 4.07, 4.26) and brinjal (3.02, 3.45, 4.64, 5.59) was recorded. Survival rate of both sexes was more on tomato (Males 59.26 days and Females 40.73 days) than on potato (55.95 and 44.04 days) and brinjal (62.16 and 37.83 days). So, it is concluded that T. absoluta completed the life cycle faster on tomato and the fecundity was also higher on tomato. Hence, it can be ascribed that tomato has been the preferred host compared to potato and brinjal.