Reproductive Biology of Tuta absoluta on Four Solanaceous Host Plants

Since first recorded in Egypt in 2009, the tomato leafminer, Tutaa bsoluta, remains the most important biotic constraint to tomato and other solanaceous species production in Egypt and Middle East. The effect of solanaceous plant species on the biological attributes of tomato leaf miner (TLM) was studied under laboratory conditions. Results indicated that TLM females prefer tomato plants for their offspring to other tested solanaceous species. The tested host plant species had a profound and significant effect on the development of all immature stages of TLM. Data further indicated that TLM cannot complete its development on pepper in all developmental stages. The percentages of immature survival were 83.33, 86.67 and 86.67% on tomato, potato and eggplant, respectively. Longevities of TLM females reared on tomato, potato and eggplant lasted 13.75, 12.83 and 15.38 days, respectively. As for the oviposition period, the longest period was recorded on eggplant, whereas the shortest was on tomato and potato. Lifetime fecundity was the highest in TLM females reared on tomato plants at 262 eggs/female compared to 198 eggs on eggplant.