On the Population Dynamics of the Tomato Leaf Miner Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Egypt

The susceptibility of different tomato cultivars during different rotations was determined during the years 2012-2013 under Egyptian field condition. Our evaluation showed that the cultivars coded with GS and 010 appeared to be more resistant to infestation with Tuta absoluta in Egypt compared with other strains. Also, the rate of infestation of different host plants and the biology of Tuta absoluta on these hosts were investigated and the observations showed that the insect can discriminate between different host plants. It showed more preference to tomato followed by eggplant, potato and pepper and the larval duration was shorter after rearing on tomato leaves with increase in pupal weight and egg production in females previously reared on tomato leaves compared with those reared on other hosts.