Ecological Life Tables of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on Tomato Crop

Z. Baker, Safaa; N.Ismail, Ahmed

	Ecological Life Tables of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on Tomato Crop
Journal of Tikrit University For Agriculture Sciences
Article 1, Volume 16, Issue 1, 2016, Pages 239-249
Authors
Safaa Z. Baker; Ahmed N.Ismail
Abstract
A Field study was carried out in the tomato fields in Salahuddin province to determine the biotic and abiotic mortality factors that affected on the population density of tomato moth Tuta absoluta and to determine the most responsible factor in the changing ( k – factor) through the construction of the monthly complete life tables. The life tables showed variations mortality percentages for different insect stages during the growing season of tomato which were due to factors in viability of eggs, parasitism and predation and unknown causes and adult mortality, photoperiod ,the impact of biotic and abiotic factors during the months were clear on the larvae in spite of its limitation, as mortality factors contributed of predation and parasitism and unknown causes in achieving the highest mortality percentages in the third and fourth instar larvae . Whereas, adult mortality of natural adult females was the most responsible factor in causing mortality (K-factor) as the adult mortality percentage ranged from 96-98% during the months, major mortality factors which affected negatively in the population density of the insect where the trend index of population showed decline in the number which was often less than one. Two types of parasitoids have been diagnosed Parasierola sp which was recorded for the first time in Iraq and Bracon ,sp as well as the predator Nesidiocoris tenuis.
Keywords
Life tables; Tomato moth; mortality factors; parasitism; predation; Unknown causes

Statistics Article View: 116 PDF Download: 7