The tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), is a major worldwide pest of tomato crops, both in the greenhouse and in open field cultivations. Since this pest’s new introduction in Iran, it has caused extensive damage. Chemicals have mainly been used to control this pest. The purpose of our research was to identify the indigenous predators of the tomato leafminer, associated with tomato in the Borazjan region of the Bushehr province, Iran. From March to May 2014, infested tomato leaves were collected from protected tomato crops. A predator species from the family Miridae was found, reared, and identified as Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter 1895). This species is reported for the first time on tomato leafminer in Iran. Identification of important natural enemies provides a scientific basis for including these predators in the biological programs against this pest.
The tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) is one of the most devastating pests of greenhouse and outdoor tomato crops. Since it is a newly introduced pest in Iran, there is an important need to search for its natural enemies. In the course of a survey on the natural enemies of this pest, samplings were carried out in tomato greenhouses heavily infested with the tomato leafminer, in the Borazjan region of the Bushehr province in Iran. Leaves with mines were reared in the laboratory until emergence of parasitoids. A single parasitoid species of the family Eulophidae was reared and identified as Neochrysocharis formosus (Westwood 1833). This species is reported for the first time on the tomato leafminer in Iran. Such information may help in developing biological control programs to control this serious pest.
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