BIOLOGY, HABITS AND NATURAL ENEMIES OF Neoleucinodes elegantalis (GUENEE)

Abstract

The tomato fruit borer, Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is at present, due to its characteristics of damage, its persistence during the crop period and the difficulty of its control the most widely spread pest of Solanum quitoenese and Cyphomandra betaceae and a potential pest of Lycopersicon sculentun and Solanum melongena. In the C.N.I. "Palmira" at Palmira (Valle) T=24°C. H.R.=74% and in the vereda "El Retiro", Pradera (Valle) (T=17°C;H.R.=80%) this study was carried out during 1988•1989. Under laboratory conditions the duration of the egg, larva and pupa stages was on the average 5.86; 24.58 and 12.33 days, respectively. The average longevity for the female and mate was 6.83 and 4.00 days respectively. The larval stage passed through live instars with an average duration of 3.6; 3.3; 4.4; 4.5 and 8.7 days, respectively. The preoviposition period lasted three days, the oviposition period lasted 7 days with a total average production of 93 eggs, and the average fertility was 98%. In 2500 larvae collected at "El Retiro" was found a parasitism by Copidosoma sp. (Hyme­noptera: Encyrtidae) of 1.3% and by Lyxophaga sp. (Diptera: Tachinidae) of 0.08%. In 527 pupae collected in the field a parasitism by Calliephaltes sp. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumo­nidae) of 0.38% was found. In 400 pupae was observed that 55% was affected by the entomopathogen Beauveria sp. (Hyphomy­cetos). In the plain zone of the Cauca Valley, 89% of eggs of the borer were found parasitized by Trichogramma sp. (Hymenoptera: Tricho­grammatidae) in tomato and eggplant. It is suggested to carry out control studies with Beauveria sp. and Copidosoma sp. on Sola­num quitoense and with Trichogramma sp. on tomato and eggplant.