Ppt on Major Insect Pests Of Tomato And Their Management – Advanced Notes

• Tomato is affected by several insect pests causing significant yield loss.
• Pests attack various plant parts: leaves, stems, flowers, and fruits.
• Effective management requires correct identification and integrated approaches.

• 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.

• Eggs laid on tender plant parts.
• Larval stage: 18–25 days; pupates in soil.
• Complete life cycle: ~30–40 days.

Nature of Damage:

• Young larvae feed on foliage; older larvae bore into fruits.
• Bores circular holes, feeds inside fruit, causing rot by secondary infection.
• One larva can damage 2–8 fruits.

• Collect and destroy infested fruits and larvae.
• Deep ploughing after harvest to expose pupae.
• Intercrop with marigold (1:16 rows) to attract egg-laying adults.
• Grow resistant varieties (e.g., Rupali, Roma, Pusa Red Plume).

Biological Control:

• Release Trichogramma pretiosum or T. chilonis (egg parasitoids).
• Release Chrysoperla carnea larvae (predator).
• Spray Bacillus thuringiensis or Helicoverpa NPV.

Chemical Control:

• Use pheromone traps (Helilure) at 12/ha.
• Recommended insecticides: Azadirachtin, Indoxacarb, Flubendiamide, Novaluron, Phosalone, Quinalphos (as per label rates).

• Larva: Minute, orange-yellow, apodous maggots.
• Adult: Small, pale yellow fly.

Life Cycle:

• Eggs laid singly on upper leaf surface.
• Larval period: 7–10 days; pupation in soil or leaves.
• Total life cycle: ~3 weeks.

Nature of Damage:

• Larvae mine between leaf epidermis, creating serpentine trails.
• Severe infestation causes leaf drying and drop.

Management:

• Remove and destroy mined leaves.
• Spray neem seed kernel extract (NSKE) 5%.

• Larvae mine leaves, stems, and fruits.
• Causes leaf necrosis, fruit damage, and yield loss.

Management:

• Use pheromone traps for monitoring and mass trapping.
• Remove and destroy infested plant parts.
• Apply biological agents (Trichogramma, Bacillus thuringiensis).
• Use recommended insecticides judiciously.

• 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 infected plants.
• Remove alternate weed hosts (e.g., Abutilon indicum).
• Use yellow sticky traps (12/ha).
• Apply carbofuran or recommended insecticides (dimethoate, malathion, thiamethoxam).

• 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.
• Spray recommended insecticides if needed.

• Nymphs: Yellowish.
• Adults: Dark, fringed wings.

Nature of 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 per recommendations.

• 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 infestation affects flowering and fruiting.

Management:

• Spray wettable sulphur (50 WP, 2g/lit).
• Spray dicofol (18.5 EC, 2.5 ml/lit).

• Correct pest identification is essential for effective management.
• Combine cultural, biological, and chemical methods for sustainable control.
• Monitor pest populations using traps and field scouting.
• Use resistant varieties and maintain field hygiene.
• Apply insecticides judiciously to avoid resistance and protect beneficial organisms.