Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #319809
Title: Lepidopterous pests: biology, ecology, and management

Author
item Simmons, Alvin
item WAKIL, WAQAS - Pakistan University Of Agriculture
item QAYYUM, MIRZA - Pakistan University Of Agriculture
item RAMASAMY, SRINIVASAN - The World Vegetable Center (AVRDC) - Taiwan
item KUHAR, THOMAS - Virginia Tech
item PHILIPS, CHRISTOPHER - University Of Minnesota

Submitted to: Elsevier
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/18/2016
Publication Date: 1/1/2018
Citation: Simmons, A.M., Wakil, W., Qayyum, M.A., Ramasamy, S., Kuhar, T.P., Philips, C.R. 2018. Lepidopterous pests: biology, ecology, and management. In: Wakil, W., Brust, G.E., Perring, T.M., editors. Sustainable Management of Arthropod Pests of Tomato. Oxford. United Kingdom: Elsevier Inc. Academic Press. p. 131-162.

Interpretive Summary: Many types of caterpillars are among the important pests which attack tomato crops. Some of these caterpillars are more of a problem and are widespread than others. This book chapter concerns nine important global caterpillar pests of tomato (old world bollworm, tomato fruitworm, tomato pinworm, tomato hornworm, tobacco hornworm, potato tuberworm, beet armyworm, common armyworm, and tomato leafminer). The status and management options for these pests are discussed in this book chapter on sustainable management of arthropod pests of tomato. These caterpillars attack tomato leaves, stems, and immature and ripe fruits, and feed on other types of plants. Some of the methods to control these pest are: resistant tomato plants, biological control, insecticide, sanitation, trapping, mating disruption, use of scouting and thresholds before making insecticide treatments, and use of insecticides that are more specific for the pests and have minimal impact on beneficial organisms and the environment. An integrated management approach against caterpillar pests of tomato is important. Information in this book chapter is of use to scientists, agricultural extension agents, tomato growers and other members of the tomato production community.

Technical Abstract: Tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L., serves as a host to a diverse array of arthropod pests including several species of Lepidoptera. Some of these pests are more problematic and more widespread than others. This book chapter concerns nine of the particularly problematic lepidopterans (Helicoverpa armigera, H. zea, Keiferia lycopersicella, Manduca quinquemaculata, M. sexta, Phthorimaea operculella, Spodoptera exugia, S. litura, and Tuta absoluta) attacking tomato. These species are diverse in their feeding nature, attacking foliage, stems, and immature and ripe fruits. Moreover, some are polyphagous while some of these lepidopterans are only known to feed on species of solanaceous plants. Nevertheless, all of these species have host plants other than tomato. Because some of these species and populations are more adaptive than others, these species tend to be more damaging in some regions. Several tools for an integrated pest management (IPM) approach are available to help relieve the problems on tomato from these lepidopterans. Moreover, some of the same tools are well-suited to help control multiple lepidopterous pests including some of the key lepidopterans.