Possible Development of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) on Different Host Plants in the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Abstract

Tomato leaf miner – Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) is a serious pest of tomato. A study on possible grown host plants of T. absoluta was conducted during 2015 and 2016 in a greenhouse in the area of Banja Luka (Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina - BiH). As host plants the following were used: Solanum lycopersicum – tomato, Solanum tuberosum – potato, Solanum melongena – eggplant and Phaseolus vulgaris – green bean. The plants were placed into entomological cages and exposed to infestation of 10 adults of Tuta absoluta. Feeding damages by all larval instars and the number of developed generations per year at different host plants were observed under greenhouse conditions. The study showed that tomato is a preferable host plant. This paper is the first record of green bean as an incompatible host plant for T. absoluta in BiH.