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New records of T uta absoluta ( M eyrick) ( L epidoptera: G elechiidae) predation by B razilian H emipteran predatory bugs
Author(s) -
Bueno V. H. P.,
Lenteren J. C.,
Lins J. C.,
Calixto A. M.,
Montes F. C.,
Silva D. B.,
Santiago L. D.,
Pérez L. M.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of applied entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1439-0418
pISSN - 0931-2048
DOI - 10.1111/jen.12017
Subject(s) - tuta absoluta , biology , gelechiidae , predation , pest analysis , lepidoptera genitalia , biological pest control , integrated pest management , pest control , beneficial insects , horticulture , agronomy , botany , ecology
The tomato borer T uta absoluta , native to western South America, is an extremely devastating pest in tomato crops in most of South America, Europe and Africa North of the Sahel, causes yield losses up to 100% and decreases fruit quality in open field and greenhouse crops if control methods are not applied. In Brazil two other important lepidopteran pests – N eoleucinodes elegantalis and H elicoverpa zea – occur in tomato, as well as thrips, whiteflies and aphids. For control of these pests, frequent applications of pesticides of up to 5 times per week are needed, and these resulted in the appearance of resistant populations to a number of active ingredients and decimation of natural enemies. Biological control may offer a better, safer and more sustainable opportunity for pest management. Mirid predatory bugs are currently used with success in southern Europe to control T . absoluta and other pests. In Brazil, four Hemipteran predatory bugs, not yet known to attack T . absoluta , were found to successfully prey on eggs and larvae of this pest. The first results on their predation capacity, development, survival and reproduction on T . absoluta on tomato plants are presented.