This presentation provides an overview of major insect pests affecting tomato crops, focusing on their identification, nature of damage, life cycle, and management strategies. Emphasis is placed on integrated pest management, including biological, cultural, and chemical control methods. Key pests discussed include the tomato fruit borer, serpentine leaf miner, whitefly, aphids, thrips, and red spider mite. The content is essential for understanding pest dynamics, crop protection, and sustainable tomato production. Important academic keywords include pest identification, life cycle, damage symptoms, integrated pest management, and chemical control.
Introduction to Tomato Pests
- Tomato is susceptible to several insect pests causing significant yield loss.
- Pests affect all growth stages: seedling, vegetative, flowering, and fruiting.
- Effective management requires correct identification and integrated approaches.
Tomato Fruit Borer (Helicoverpa armigera)
Family: Noctuidae
Order: Lepidoptera
Distribution: Tropics, subtropics, and warmer temperate regions.
Identification:
- Caterpillars: Varying colors, radiating hairs, brown to greenish with dark lines.
- Moth: Stout, light yellowish-brown, forewings with dark spot, hindwings smoky white.
Tomato Fruit Borer – Life Cycle and Damage
Life Cycle:
- Eggs laid on tender plant parts.
- Larval stage: 18–25 days, pupates in soil.
- Total life cycle: 30–40 days.
Nature of Damage:
- Young larvae feed on foliage; older larvae bore into fruits.
- Circular holes in fruits; internal feeding causes rotting.
- One larva can damage multiple fruits.
Tomato Fruit Borer – Management
- Collect and destroy infested fruits and larvae.
- Intercrop with marigold (1:16 rows) to attract egg-laying adults.
- Deep ploughing after harvest exposes pupae to predators.
- Install pheromone traps (Helilure) at 12/ha.
- Use resistant varieties: Rupali, Roma, Pusa Red Plume.
- Spray Bacillus thuringiensis (2g/lit).
- Release Trichogramma pretiosum or T. chilonis for egg parasitism.
- Spray HaNPV @ 250 LE/ha for larval control.
- Release Chrysoperla carnea larvae for biological control.
Chemical Control:
- Azadirachtin 1% EC: 2 ml/lit
- Indoxacarb 14.5% SC: 8 ml/10 lit
- Flubendiamide 20 WG: 5 g/10 lit
- Novaluron 10% EC: 7.5 ml/10 lit
- Phosalone 35% EC: 13 ml/10 lit
- Quinalphos 25% EC: 1 ml/lit
Serpentine Leaf Miner (Liriomyza trifolii)
Family: Agromyzidae
Order: Diptera
Identification:
- Larva: Minute, orange-yellow, apodous maggots.
- Pupa: Yellowish-brown, found in soil or leaves.
- Adult: Pale yellow, small fly.
Life Cycle:
- Eggs laid singly on upper leaf surface.
- Larval period: 7–10 days; total cycle ~3 weeks.
Nature of Damage:
- Maggots mine between leaf epidermal layers.
- Serpentine mines visible; severe cases cause leaf drying and drop.
Management:
- Collect and destroy mined leaves.
- Spray neem seed kernel extract (NSKE) 5%.
Tomato Leaf Miner (Tuta absoluta)
Family: Gelechiidae
Order: Lepidoptera
Identification:
- Small greyish-brown moth; larvae mine leaves, stems, and fruits.
Nature of Damage:
- Leaf mining, fruit boring, and stem tunneling.
- Leads to leaf necrosis, fruit rot, and yield loss.
Management:
- Use pheromone traps for monitoring and mass trapping.
- Remove and destroy infested plant parts.
- Apply Bacillus thuringiensis or recommended insecticides.
Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci)
Family: Aleyrodidae
Order: Hemiptera
Identification:
- Eggs: Pear-shaped, light yellow.
- Nymphs: Oval, scale-like, greenish-white.
- Adults: Tiny, white, scale-like.
Nature of Damage:
- Nymphs and adults suck sap, causing chlorosis and leaf curling.
- Vector of tomato leaf curl virus.
Management:
- Uproot and destroy diseased plants.
- Remove alternate weed hosts (e.g., Abutilon indicum).
- Install yellow sticky traps (12/ha).
- Apply carbofuran 3% G @ 40 kg/ha or recommended insecticides.
Chemical Control:
- Dimethoate 30% EC: 1 ml/lit
- Malathion 50% EC: 1.5 ml/lit
- Oxydemeton-methyl 25% EC: 1 ml/lit
- Thiamethoxam 25% WG: 4 ml/10 lit
Aphids (Aphis gossypii, Myzus persicae)
Family: Aphididae
Order: Hemiptera
Nature of Damage:
- Nymphs and adults suck sap from leaves and stems.
- Infested plants become yellow, deformed, and may dry up.
- Honeydew secretion leads to sooty mould, reducing photosynthesis.
Management:
- Seed treatment with imidacloprid or thiamethoxam.
- Use yellow sticky traps.
Thrips (Thrips tabaci)
Family: Thripidae
Order: Thysanoptera
Identification:
- Nymphs: Yellowish.
- Adults: Dark, fringed wings.
Nature of Damage:
- Silvery streaks on leaves, flower drop, bud necrosis.
- Vector of tomato spotted wilt virus.
Management:
- Uproot and destroy diseased plants.
- Install yellow sticky traps (15/ha).
- Release Chrysoperla carnea larvae (10,000/ha).
- Spray methyl demeton 25 EC or dimethoate 30 EC @ 1 lit/ha.
Red Spider Mite (Tetranychus spp.)
Family: Tetranychidae
Order: Acarina
Identification:
- Eggs: Hyaline, globular, laid in masses.
- Nymphs: Yellowish.
- Adults: Small, red.
Nature of Damage:
- Leaves turn reddish-brown, bronzed, and dry.
- Webbing on leaves; severe cases affect flowering and fruiting.
Management:
- Spray wettable sulphur 50 WP (2g/lit).
- Spray dicofol 18.5 EC (2.5 ml/lit).
Summary: Integrated Pest Management in Tomato
- Accurate pest identification is crucial for effective management.
- Combine cultural, biological, and chemical methods for sustainable control.
- Monitor pest populations using traps and field scouting.
- Use resistant varieties and timely interventions to minimize losses.
Objective Questions
Q1. Which family does the Tomato Fruit Borer, Helicoverpa armigera, belong to?
A. Noctuidae
B. Gelechidae
C. Agromyzidae
D. Aleurodidae
Answer: A
Q2. What is the recommended ratio of American tall marigold to tomato seedlings for managing Tomato Fruit Borer?
A. 1:10
B. 1:16
C. 1:20
D. 1:25
Answer: B
Q3. Which insecticide and dose is recommended for controlling Tomato Fruit Borer using Flubendiamide?
A. 8 ml/10 lit
B. 5 g/10 lit
C. 7.5 ml/10 lit
D. 13 ml/10 lit
Answer: B
Q4. Which pest is identified by minute orange yellowish apodous maggots as larvae?
A. Helicoverpa armigera
B. Liriomyza trifolii
C. Tuta absoluta
D. Bemisia tabaci
Answer: B
Q5. Which pest acts as a vector for tomato leaf curl disease?
A. Aphis gossypii
B. Thrips tabaci
C. Bemisia tabaci
D. Tetranychus spp
Answer: C
Q6. Which control measure is specifically recommended for Thrips tabaci management?
A. Spray wettable sulphur 50 WP
B. Use yellow sticky traps @ 15/ha
C. Spray Bacillus thuringiensis
D. Release Trichogramma pretiosum
Answer: B
Q7. What is the recommended dose of Dimethoate 30% EC for whitefly control?
A. 1.0 ml/lit
B. 1.5 ml/lit
C. 4.0 ml/10 lit
D. 2.0 ml/lit
Answer: A
Q8. Which pest is managed by spraying wettable sulphur 50 WP at 2g/lit?
A. Tuta absoluta
B. Thrips tabaci
C. Tetranychus spp
D. Liriomyza trifolii
Answer: C
Q9. Which natural enemy is recommended for release at 50,000 eggs/ha from 30 days after planting for Tomato Fruit Borer management?
A. Trichogramma pretiosum
B. Trichogramma chilonis
C. Chrysoperla carnea
D. Bacillus thuringiensis
Answer: C
Q10. Which pest's nymphs and adults secrete honeydew that leads to sooty mould growth on tomato plants?
A. Bemisia tabaci
B. Aphis gossypii
C. Tetranychus spp
D. Thrips tabaci
Answer: B
