Determination of adult population development of Tomato Leafminer [Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)] in tomato growing areas in Şanlıurfa province

Abstract

This study was performed in tomato growing areas of Camlidere, Goktepe and Yiginak location in Şanliurfa during the 2010 and 2011 growing seasons. In the study, we intended to determine some critical time points (such as first adult emergence, maximum adult flight, number of generations per year and flight activity in nature) in the population dynamics of Tomato Leafminer [Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)] in Şanliurfa. Adult population dynamic of Tomato Leafminer was monitored using sexual pheromone traps. According to the results from the study, 1) First adult flight began at the beginning of May, 2) Adult flight in both years reached a maximum 4 different time points (in July, August, September and October) of the year, 3) The flight ended at the end of November in the study area. The maximum adult catches of the pest were determined as 978 adults/ trap in 2011 and 370 adults/ trap in 2010. Tomato Leafminer adults were active in nature at least 7 months (from early May to late November). The infection rate of tomato plants in the study area was determined as 100% in both growing seasons. Key words: Tomato Leafminer, Tuta absoluta, pheromone, population development