Monitoring population of tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta during winter and summer evergreens of potato filed in Egypt

Abstract

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) tomato leaf miner is a major pest of the Solanaceae family, this studs was carried out in the open field of three potato varities (Espunta, Mondial and Pliny) at Al-Bustan, Nubaria Western Delta in Egypt in two evergreen (winter and Summer) using pheromone traps as an indicator to infestation by this pest. Also, the parasitoid Trichogramma evanscens (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) was evaluated to suppressing the infestation as a biological control. Also, the relationship between the adult moth of T. absoluta and temperature o C and relative humidity RH% throw the winter and summer evergreens studied. The result indicated that the population of T. absoluta adult moth in pheromone traps increased in winter evergreen during October and November (19-22°C) and summer evergreen during May and June (23o -26o C) in warm climates. The results revealed that Tr. evanscens gave a high significant in reducing the T. absoluta in open field and greatly exacerbates role of natural enemies.