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

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.