Age-stage, two-sex life history of the golden twin spot moth, Chrysodeixis chalcites (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), on six commercial tomato cultivars under laboratory conditions

The tomato looper, Chrysodeixis chalcites (Esper) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a major pest that feeds on some fodder crops, vegetables, and ornamental plants in diverse plant families. We studied the effect of different cultivars of tomato including: Cal.JN3, Hed Rio Grande, Rio Grande UG, SUN 6108 f1, Super crystal, and Super strain B on the life history of C. chalcites under laboratory conditions (25±1 °C, 65±5% relative humidity, and 16:8 (light:dark hours). Data were analysed using the age-stage, two-sex life table method. Tomato cultivars had significant effects on developmental time of larvae, pupae, and total preadult stages of C. chalcites. The longest (17.39 days) and the shortest (13.93 days) larval period were observed on Hed Rio Grande and SUN 6108 f1, respectively. The longest pupal period was observed on Cal.JN3 (12.16 days) and Hed Rio Grande (12.11 days) compared with other cultivars. The lowest amount of larval growth index and rate of ovipositon days was observed on Cal.JN3. The results of this study revealed that Cal.JN3 and Hed Rio Grande were the less suitable cultivars to C. chalcites compared with other cultivars studied and can be used in integrated pest management programme of this pest.