ETHOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENTAL CYCLE OF OF TOMATO LEAF MINER (Tuta absoluta Meyrick, 1917) DEPENDING ON TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the ethology and development cycle of tomato leaf miner in laboratory conditions on populations collected in Bosnia and Herzegovina in a period of three year. For the purposes of this study, tomato hybrid Matias was used, which is often grown in our area. During the study of ethology, it was noticed that adult individuals of the tomato leaf miner copulate very quickly after the ecclesia, often even after the first flight. Copulation usually takes place on the surface of a tomato leaf. The female approaches egg-laying immediately after copulation. The female lays the largest number of eggs in the first 24 hours after copulation, laying one by one, but most often the eggs are laid in smaller groups of two to five eggs. For laying eggs, the female looks for leaves without mines, but the laid eggs can also be found on leaves with already formed mines. It has been determined that female tomato leaf miner usually lay between 120 and 230 eggs. Most often the eggs are laid on the topp part of leaf, and less often on the botton part of leaf. After sawing, the caterpillar is polypoid and faces the ventral side of the body towards the surface of the leaf, where it stays for a short time, and then burrows into the leaf after a few minutes. During the research of the development and life of caterpillars, it was stated that a larger number of caterpillars can be found inside the connected mines. From the life activities of the caterpillar arises the overall importance of the tomato leaf miner as a pest, which should certainly be taken into account when taking appropriate control measures. The development cycle of the tomato leaf miner on the tomato hybrid Matias was slowed down and lasted longer at a lower temperature (20°C). The development cycle of the tomato leaf miner lasted an average of 29.16 days at a temperature of 20°C, while at a temperature of 25°C it lasted an average of 22.60 days.