Survey of Insects and Other Arthropods in Tomato (Lycopersiconesculentum Mill.) in Lanaodel Sur Province, ARMM, Philippines

This study was conducted to identify the insects and other arthropods associated with tomato. Insects on tomato belong to 14 families under six orders. Tomato insects were classified under orders Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Homoptera , Lepidoptera , and Hymenoptera. The insect pests included the leafminer, Liriomyza sp., aphids, Aphis gossypii, cutworm, Spodopteralitura , tomato fruitworm, Helicoverpaarmigera, cabbage looper, Trichoplusiani, flea beetle, Psylliodessp, ladybird beetles like the 12-spotted and 28-spotted ladybird beetles, Epilachnachrysomelina and Epilachnaphilippinenesis, squash beetle, Aulacophorasimilisandmelon fly, Bactroceracucurbitae. Beneficial species were bees (Apis sp.), braconid wasp ( Cotesia sp.) and spiders. The survey started from December 14, 2013 and it ended on February 16, 2014.

Lyonet’s gland of the tomato fruitworm, Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The Lyonet’s gland is a widespread accessory labial gland in Lepidoptera. Although its function is ambiguous, the Lyonet’s gland arguably plays an important role in silk production. Our knowledge of the Lyonet’s gland in heliothine species is extremely limited; it is reportedly missing fromHelicoverpaarmigeraandHeliothisvirescens, whereas it is reportedly reduced in size inHelicoverpazea. Using confocal microscopy and brightfield imaging, we show that the Lyonet’s gland inHelicoverpazeais present and the size is relatively enlarged relative to other lepidopterans. We also examined whether glucose oxidase, an abundant enzyme found in labial salivary gland is also present in the extracts of Lyonet’s gland, but we found no evidence of that. Based on the size and accessibility of the Lyonet’s gland, future studies should include transcriptomic and proteomics studies inH.zeato provide evidence for potential functions.

Arthropod pest complex and associated damage in field-grown tomato in Senegal

Biotic factors (including insect pests) constrain field-grown tomato production in Senegal. However, little information is available on the identity and life system of key pests. The objectives of this study were to: (i) update key pest records of field-grown tomato in the central vegetable-producing area along the northern coast of Senegal, known as the Niayes area; (ii) map their spatial and temporal incidence and (iii) understand insecticide use by growers to control the pests. A total of 98 tomato fields distributed in three zones along a north–south transect in the Niayes area were monitored over four crop cycles from 2012 to 2014. As expected, the tomato fruitworm Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was the most destructive pest with an occurrence of 92% in sampled fields (90/98) and up to 38% damaged fruits in one field at the time of sampling. The proportion of damaged fruits did not differ among zones, but was significantly higher in the early dry season compared to the late dry season. The invasive tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) was detected in 53% of sampled fields (52/98), mainly in the south of the Niayes area in the late dry season. Because of their ability to adapt to unstable environment and insecticides, this insect pest assemblage is a new challenge that farmers have to deal with while decreasing their use of broad-spectrum insecticides.

Lyonet’s gland of the tomato fruitworm, Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The Lyonet’s gland is a widespread accessory labial gland in Lepidoptera. Albeit its function is ambiguous, the Lyonet’s gland arguably plays an important role in silk production. Our knowledge on the Lyonet’s gland in heliothine species is limited; it is apparently missing from H. armigera and Heliothis virescence, whereas reduced in size in H. zea. Using confocal microscopy and brightfield imaging, we show that the Lyonet’s gland in Helicoverpa zea is present and the size is relatively enlarged relative to other lepidopterans.

Control of Helicoverpa zea in Tomatoes with Chlorantraniliprole Applied Through Drip Chemigation

Chlorantraniliprole (=Rynaxypyr) is a novel anthranilic diamide insecticide that is of interest to vegetable growers because of its low mammalian toxicity and systemic properties. Field trials were conducted between 2006 and 2008 in North Carolina and Virginia to test the efficacy of chlorantraniliprole as a drip chemigation treatment on tomatoes. Drip chemigation of chlorantraniliprole at various rates and intervals significantly reduced the percentage of tomatoes damaged by tomato fruitworm (Helicoverpa zea) comparable to that typically achieved from multiple foliar applications of insecticides. The best control was achieved with two applications of chlorantraniliprole at 0.074 kg ai/ha, or a single application at 0.099 kg ai/ha. Residual ingestion bioassays showed that chlorantraniliprole was effectively taken up by the roots and was active in leaves up to 66 days after treatment (DAT), active in blossoms up to 22 DAT, but was not active in fruit. Drip chemigation of chlorantraniliprole may offer several advantages over foliar applications, including ease of application, reduced pesticide input into the environment, reduced worker exposure to pesticides, and reduced risk to beneficial arthropods. Accepted for publication 14 January 2010. Published 7 April 2010.

Parasitism of tomato fruitworm larvae in process tomatoes at Pukekohe

A process tomato trial was undertaken at Pukekohe to investigate the interactions between tomato fruitworm Helicoverpa armigera and its larval parasitoids the accidentally introduced generalist Meteorus pulchricornis and the introduced specialists Cotesia kazak and Microplitis croceipes Total mortality of larvae caused by parasitism was 75 with M pulchricornis the dominant parasitoid reared from 54 of parasitised larvae and C kazak and M croceipes reared from 33 and 13 respectively Cotesia kazak attacked smaller larvae than the other two species and was able to survive in the presence of the entomopathogenic fungus Zoophthora radicans late in the crop These results contrast with those for corresponding parasitism in Hawkes Bay where C kazak is very dominant It is concluded that the availability of alternative hosts in areas like Pukekohe is causing the displacement of C kazak there but that this is having little impact on biocontrol of this pest in tomatoes