First invasion of tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta on eggplant Solanam melongena from Kerala, India

Authors

  • Sivakumar T ICAR-KVK-Alappuzha, ICAR-CPCRI(RS), Kayamkulam

Keywords:

Tuta, predator, invasive pest, brinjal, Diacamma

Abstract

Invasive insect pests are threat to native flora as well as cultivated crops all around the globe. Tuta absoluta is a recent invasion to India and caused economic damage to tomato in South-Central India. The pest was noticed on eggplant or brinjal, Solanum melongena in southern most part of the Country and caused heavy defoliation of crops. A promising native ant species, Diacamma rugosum was found feeding on pupae from the ventral surface of the leaf. The ant predator could check the pest infestation in one plot. This the first report of the pest on eggplant and its ant predator from this part of the world.

Author Biography

Sivakumar T, ICAR-KVK-Alappuzha, ICAR-CPCRI(RS), Kayamkulam

Subject Matter Specialist (Agrl.Entomology),

ICAR-KVK-Alappuzha,

ICAR-CPCRI(RS), Kayamkulam

Published

2018-07-28

How to Cite

T, S. (2018). First invasion of tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta on eggplant Solanam melongena from Kerala, India. ENTOMON, 42(4), 335–338. Retrieved from http://entomon.in/index.php/Entomon/article/view/243

Issue

Section

Short Communications