Ppt on Major Insect Pests Of Tomato And Their Management Strategies

This presentation provides an overview of major insect pests affecting tomato crops, focusing on their identification, nature of damage, life cycle, and integrated management strategies. Emphasis is placed on the economic impact, pest biology, and effective control measures, including biological, cultural, and chemical methods. Key topics include the tomato fruit borer, leaf miner, whitefly, aphids, thrips, and red spider mite, which are critical for understanding pest management in tomato cultivation. 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.
  • Major pests include fruit borer, leaf miner, whitefly, aphids, thrips, and red spider mite.
  • Effective management requires correct identification and understanding of pest biology.
Tomato Fruit Borer (Helicoverpa armigera)
Taxonomy:
  • Family: Noctuidae; Order: Lepidoptera
Economic Importance:
  • Serious pest in tropical and subtropical regions.
  • Damages tomato, tur, gram, and other crops.
Identification:
  • Caterpillar: Varying color, radiating hairs, brown to greenish with dark lines.
  • Moth: Medium-sized, light yellowish brown, forewings with dark spot, hindwings pale with black border.
Tomato Fruit Borer – Life Cycle & Damage
Life Cycle:
  • Eggs laid on tender plant parts.
  • Larval stage lasts 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 leads to secondary infections.
  • One larva can damage 2–8 fruits.
Tomato Fruit Borer – Management
Cultural & Mechanical:
  • Collect and destroy infested fruits and larvae.
  • Deep ploughing after harvest to expose pupae.
  • Intercrop with marigold (1:16 rows) to attract adults.
Biological:
  • Release Trichogramma spp. and Chrysoperla carnea.
  • Spray Bacillus thuringiensis (2g/lit) or HaNPV (250 LE/ha).
Chemical:
  • Use pheromone traps (Helilure) at 12/ha.
  • Spray recommended insecticides: Azadirachtin, Indoxacarb, Flubendiamide, Novaluron, Phosalone, Quinalphos.
Serpentine Leaf Miner (Liriomyza trifolii)
Taxonomy:
  • Family: Agromyzidae; Order: Diptera
Identification:
  • Larva: Minute, orange-yellow, apodous maggots.
  • Adult: Pale yellow, small fly.
Life Cycle:
  • Eggs laid singly on upper leaf surface.
  • Larval period: 7–10 days; pupates in soil or leaves.
  • Total life cycle: ~3 weeks.
Damage:
  • Larvae mine between leaf epidermis, causing serpentine trails.
  • Severe cases cause leaf drying and drop.
Serpentine Leaf Miner – Management
  • Collect and destroy mined leaves.
  • Spray neem seed kernel extract (NSKE) 5%.
  • Practice crop rotation and avoid overuse of insecticides to conserve natural enemies.
Tomato Leaf Miner (Tuta absoluta)
Taxonomy:
  • Family: Gelechiidae; Order: Lepidoptera
Identification:
  • Small, greyish-brown moth; larvae mine leaves, stems, and fruits.
Damage:
  • Leaf mines, galleries in stems, and fruit damage.
  • Can cause severe yield loss if unmanaged.
Management:
  • Use pheromone traps for monitoring.
  • Release natural enemies (Trichogramma spp.).
  • Apply Bacillus thuringiensis or selective insecticides as needed.
Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci)
Taxonomy:
  • Family: Aleyrodidae; Order: Hemiptera
Identification:
  • Eggs: Pear-shaped, light yellow.
  • Nymphs: Oval, scale-like, greenish white.
  • Adults: Tiny, white, scale-like.
Damage:
  • Nymphs and adults suck sap, causing chlorosis and leaf curling.
  • Vector of tomato leaf curl virus.
Whitefly – Management
  • Uproot and destroy infected plants.
  • Remove alternate weed hosts (e.g., Abutilon indicum).
  • Use yellow sticky traps (12/ha).
  • Apply carbofuran 3% G @ 40 kg/ha or recommended insecticides: Dimethoate, Malathion, Oxydemeton-methyl, Thiamethoxam.
Aphids (Aphis gossypii, Myzus persicae)
Taxonomy:
  • Family: Aphididae; Order: Hemiptera
Identification:
  • Small, soft-bodied insects, green or black.
Damage:
  • Nymphs and adults suck sap, causing yellowing, deformation, and drying.
  • Honeydew secretion leads to sooty mould, reducing photosynthesis.
Management:
  • Seed treatment with imidacloprid or thiamethoxam.
  • Use yellow sticky traps.
  • Encourage natural predators (ladybird beetles, lacewings).
Thrips (Thrips tabaci)
Taxonomy:
  • Family: Thripidae; Order: Thysanoptera
Identification:
  • Nymphs: Yellowish; Adults: Dark with fringed wings.
Damage:
  • Silvery streaks on leaves, bud necrosis, flower drop.
  • Vector of tomato spotted wilt virus.
Management:
  • Uproot and destroy diseased plants.
  • Use yellow sticky traps (15/ha).
  • Release Chrysoperla carnea larvae (10,000/ha).
  • Spray methyl demeton or dimethoate as needed.
Red Spider Mite (Tetranychus spp.)
Taxonomy:
  • Family: Tetranychidae; Order: Acarina
Identification:
  • Eggs: Hyaline, globular, laid in masses.
  • Nymphs: Yellowish; Adults: Small, red.
Damage:
  • Leaves turn reddish-brown, bronzed, and dry.
  • Webbing on leaves; reduced flower and fruit set.
Management:
  • Spray wettable sulphur 50 WP (2g/lit) or dicofol 18.5 EC (2.5 ml/lit).
Summary: Integrated Pest Management in Tomato
  • Combine cultural, biological, and chemical methods for effective pest control.
  • Monitor pest populations regularly using traps and field scouting.
  • Promote use of resistant varieties and natural enemies.
  • Apply insecticides judiciously to avoid resistance and conserve beneficial insects.

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 rows for managing tomato fruit borer?
A. 1:10
B. 1:16
C. 1:20
D. 1:25
Answer: B

Q3. Which insecticide is recommended at a dose of 7.5 ml/10 lit for tomato fruit borer control?
A. Indoxacarb
B. Flubendiamide
C. Novaluron
D. Phosalone
Answer: C

Q4. Which pest is identified by minute orange yellowish apodous maggots as larvae?
A. Tomato fruit borer
B. Serpentine leaf miner
C. Whitefly
D. Aphids
Answer: B

Q5. Which pest is a vector of tomato leaf curl disease?
A. Thrips tabaci
B. Bemisia tabaci
C. Liriomyza trifolii
D. Tuta absoluta
Answer: B

Q6. Which control measure is NOT recommended for aphid management in tomato?
A. Seed treatment with imidachloprid
B. Use of yellow sticky trap
C. Spray methyl demeton
D. Thiamethoxam 5 kg/seed
Answer: C

Q7. Which pest causes silvery streaks on leaf surface and is a vector of tomato spotted wilt virus?
A. Red spider mite
B. Thrips tabaci
C. Whitefly
D. Aphids
Answer: B

Q8. Which chemical is recommended at 2g/lit for controlling red spider mite?
A. Dicofol 18.5 EC
B. Wettable sulphur 50 WP
C. Dimethoate 30% EC
D. Malathion 50% EC
Answer: B

Q9. Which order does the tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta, belong to?
A. Hemiptera
B. Diptera
C. Lepidoptera
D. Thysonoptera
Answer: C

Q10. Which pest's nymphs and adults suck sap, causing yellowing and deformation of tomato plants?
A. Whitefly
B. Aphids
C. Thrips
D. Red spider mite
Answer: B