Ecological and Biological Studies on the Mirid Zoophytophagous Bug Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter as a Predator of the Tomato Leaf Miner Tuta absoluta

Abstract

Tuta absoluta is a serious pest infesting tomato with 80-100% losses. Nesidiocoris tenuis is a zoophytophagous species that feed on both tomato plants and T. absoluta . Effect of plantation dates on both species during 2020 and 2021 seasons was examined. Further, effect of food types on biological aspects of N. tenuis was investigated. In February plantation, the highest density of N. tenuis was recorded on the fourth-week of May of both seasons, while the highest density for T. absoluta was on the fourth-and second-weeks of April and May during the first and second seasons, respectively. In June plantation, the highest densities of N. tenuis and T. absoluta were on the fourth-weeks of September and August during both seasons, respectively. In September plantation, the highest density of N. tenuis was on the second- and third-weeks of October during the first and second seasons, respectively, while the highest density for T. absoluta was on the first-week of January during both seasons. The numbers of N. tenuis positively coincided with those of T. absoluta during February and June plantations. No significant difference in egg period between females that fed on tomato plants or infested tomato plants with T. absoluta was detected. The nymphal stage duration of N. tenuis was shorter when fed on infested tomato plants with T. absoluta than on tomato plants or T. absoluta larvae. The adult fed with the infested tomato plants with T. absoluta lived and produced more eggs than those fed tomato plants or T. absoluta larvae.